Np-Fe0 addition affects the microstructure and composition of the microwave-sintered lunar soil simulant CLRS-2

Microwave sintering is a key technology for future lunar habitats, which has been verified by various lunar soil simulant experiments. However, nanophase iron (np-Fe0), a unique component of the real lunar regolith, has been ignored in previous studies of the microwave sintering of lunar soil simulants. In this study, microwave-sintering experiments of lunar soil simulant CLRS-2 with and without np-Fe0 at different temperatures were conducted. A comparison of the microstructure and chemical composition of sintered products indicates that all products of samples with 1.0 wt% np-Fe0 exhibit better properties than those without np-Fe0 after heating at equivalent temperatures. Adding np-Fe0 to the lunar soil simulant CLRS-2 couples well with microwaves, which may increase the real heating temperature in a sample, resulting in the product being solidified at 700 degrees C and a relatively dense product forming at 900 degrees C, thus improving the sintering efficiency. This study suggests that microwave sintering is an effective potential technology for future lunar habitats and road hardening because of the wide distribution of np-Fe0 in the lunar regolith. The technical parameters given in this study can provide an important guide for future lunar construction by microwave sintering. (c) 2023 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.