Regolith-Rich PEEK Composite Bricks: Steps Towards Space-Ready Lunar Construction Materials
This study introduces a novel composite construction material composed of lunar regolith combined with PEEK in dry powder form. The work demonstrates significant advantages over alternative methods, primarily by reducing production power consumption and simplifying the manufacturing process. Buildin...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/679 |
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| author | Roberto Torre Carlo Giovanni Ferro Lorenzo Bono Aidan Cowley |
| author_facet | Roberto Torre Carlo Giovanni Ferro Lorenzo Bono Aidan Cowley |
| author_sort | Roberto Torre |
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| description | This study introduces a novel composite construction material composed of lunar regolith combined with PEEK in dry powder form. The work demonstrates significant advantages over alternative methods, primarily by reducing production power consumption and simplifying the manufacturing process. Building on previous research that explored binder optimization through process simplification and targeting predefined shapes, this work delves deeper into a comparative analysis of high-performance thermoplastics. Among the various options, PEEK demonstrates the most favorable properties. The study investigates key processing parameters and evaluates the effects of vacuum processing and temperature testing on mechanical properties. The research also evaluates the effects of vacuum processing and temperature testing to assess the material’s performance under lunar conditions. Comparative analysis is performed with standard performance of various reinforced and unreinforced concretes and with standard requirements for construction bricks as per ASTM standards. This shows that the composite, with an organic binder content as low as 5 wt%, has great potential. Notably, the improvements achieved through vacuum curing ensure compliance with lunar environmental conditions and alignment with most Earth-based engineering standards. Samples compacted at 7.50 MPa with 10 wt% binder, and tested at room temperature, achieve a compression strength of 16.3 MPa, exceeding that of industrial floor bricks and matching that of building bricks used on Earth. Bending strength (7.4 MPa) aligns with steel fiber-reinforced and high-strength concretes. Vacuum curing further enhances these properties, with an observed increase of +66% in bending strength and +33% in compression strength. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f415009451eb4d2e90c0d1e9040a9528 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-f415009451eb4d2e90c0d1e9040a95282025-01-24T13:20:25ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-0115267910.3390/app15020679Regolith-Rich PEEK Composite Bricks: Steps Towards Space-Ready Lunar Construction MaterialsRoberto Torre0Carlo Giovanni Ferro1Lorenzo Bono2Aidan Cowley3European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, 51147 Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Federal Institute of Technology, 8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandEuropean Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, 51147 Cologne, GermanyThis study introduces a novel composite construction material composed of lunar regolith combined with PEEK in dry powder form. The work demonstrates significant advantages over alternative methods, primarily by reducing production power consumption and simplifying the manufacturing process. Building on previous research that explored binder optimization through process simplification and targeting predefined shapes, this work delves deeper into a comparative analysis of high-performance thermoplastics. Among the various options, PEEK demonstrates the most favorable properties. The study investigates key processing parameters and evaluates the effects of vacuum processing and temperature testing on mechanical properties. The research also evaluates the effects of vacuum processing and temperature testing to assess the material’s performance under lunar conditions. Comparative analysis is performed with standard performance of various reinforced and unreinforced concretes and with standard requirements for construction bricks as per ASTM standards. This shows that the composite, with an organic binder content as low as 5 wt%, has great potential. Notably, the improvements achieved through vacuum curing ensure compliance with lunar environmental conditions and alignment with most Earth-based engineering standards. Samples compacted at 7.50 MPa with 10 wt% binder, and tested at room temperature, achieve a compression strength of 16.3 MPa, exceeding that of industrial floor bricks and matching that of building bricks used on Earth. Bending strength (7.4 MPa) aligns with steel fiber-reinforced and high-strength concretes. Vacuum curing further enhances these properties, with an observed increase of +66% in bending strength and +33% in compression strength.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/679ISRUlunar regolithPEEKmooncomposite materialbricks |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Torre Carlo Giovanni Ferro Lorenzo Bono Aidan Cowley Regolith-Rich PEEK Composite Bricks: Steps Towards Space-Ready Lunar Construction Materials Applied Sciences ISRU lunar regolith PEEK moon composite material bricks |
| title | Regolith-Rich PEEK Composite Bricks: Steps Towards Space-Ready Lunar Construction Materials |
| title_full | Regolith-Rich PEEK Composite Bricks: Steps Towards Space-Ready Lunar Construction Materials |
| title_fullStr | Regolith-Rich PEEK Composite Bricks: Steps Towards Space-Ready Lunar Construction Materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Regolith-Rich PEEK Composite Bricks: Steps Towards Space-Ready Lunar Construction Materials |
| title_short | Regolith-Rich PEEK Composite Bricks: Steps Towards Space-Ready Lunar Construction Materials |
| title_sort | regolith rich peek composite bricks steps towards space ready lunar construction materials |
| topic | ISRU lunar regolith PEEK moon composite material bricks |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/679 |
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