Scientists say that lunar dust, which is usually seen primarily as an obstacle to lunar exploration, may actually be useful. They believe that if it is reinforced with a polymer-based composite, the resulting material will be suitable for use in the construction of buildings and structures.
Lunar dust
Researchers from Rice University conducted an interesting study of lunar dust and published their findings in the journal Advanced Engineering Materials. These tiny particles with extremely sharp edges are usually viewed as a threat to equipment and the health of astronauts, but scientists have managed to look at them in a new light.
Scientists are proposing to use lunar dust to create new materials. The idea had been around before, but until now it had been considered merely as one of the options for 3D printers to work with. Now, scientists are exploring the possibility of using it to create a standalone composite material that can be used in a wide range of structures and products.
It should be based on a polymer matrix. The liquid mixture of oligomers is immediately reinforced with polymer fibers. As a result, it forms a strong material on its own once it hardens. And the use of dust and small pebbles found in lunar regolith makes it even more resistant to various factors, while also making it cheaper.
Material for the base structure
The authors of the study emphasize that the key point of the new research is precisely that a significant portion of the new composite consists of local lunar material. They have already conducted a study: first, they created a lunar dust simulant, then mixed it with a polymer matrix, and produced samples that were subsequently tested for strength.
Something similar has long been used in the aviation industry. It is the polymer fibers that provide the material with its primary strength. However, construction on the Moon will require using exactly the amount needed.
No matter what the material is, every kilogram of it brought from Earth to the Moon becomes almost as valuable as gold. That is precisely why using local materials to build a base—which will require tens of tons of them—has long been a dream of researchers.
However, the production—and even more the use—of Portland cement on our planet, the basis of modern construction materials, is practically impossible. Which is why building structures there is so expensive. Replacing it with polymer-reinforced concrete isn’t exactly cheap either, but it’s still a much better option than shipping prefabricated structures from Earth.
According to phys.org
