Localized microwave thermal posttreatment of sintered samples of lunar simulant
Abstract
Microwave heating has emerged as a feasible sintering and melting method for lunar regolith simulant. Unlike conventional heating methods, microwaves operating at 2.45 GHz penetrate the material and drive a dielectric heating process within the material volume itself. This property makes microwave sintering a viable and ideal candidate for localized, potentially targetable material properties modification. In this feasibility study, the impact of microwave thermal postprocessing as a fast, localized heating source to influence porosity, microstructure, crystal formation, mechanical properties, and macrocrack formation of conventionally presintered samples is investigated.
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Microwave radiation can penetrate material deeply (up to 65 cm), making it an efficient method for subsurface heating.
“Microwave radiation can penetrate the material deeply (up to 65 cm), making it an efficient method for subsurface heating [159,160].”
From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [159]
Increasing the heat with a longer irradiation time of around 45 s (around 1100°C) resulted in material melting and outgassing.
“Increasing the heat with a longer irradiation time of around 45 s (around 1100 ◦ C) resulted in material melting and outgassing.”
From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [159]
Microwave-treated samples exhibited mostly closed porosity with microcracks, in contrast with oven-sintered samples with interconnected pores and irregular shapes.
“Microwave-treated samples exhibited mostly closed porosity with microcracks, in contrast with oven-sintered samples with interconnected pores and irregular shapes.”
From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [159]
Treated samples showed a more compact structure with a 13% decrease in porosity, but no significant change in compressive strength and Young's modulus was observed.
“While treated samples showed a more compact structure with a 13% decrease in porosity, no significant change in the compressive strength and Young's modulus was observed.”
From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [159]
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- Authors
- Fateri, M., Cowley, A., Kolbe, M., Garcia, O., Sperl, M., & Cristoforetti, S.
- Affiliations
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) (DE)
- European Space Agency (FR)
- European Astronaut Centre (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Fateri, Miranda
- Venue
- Journal of Aerospace Engineering
- Published
- 2019-07
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 4
- ISSN
- 0893-1321 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-5525
- OpenAlex
- W2944124203
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 1.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Aerospace Engineering (publishedVersion)
- elib (German Aerospace Center) (submittedVersion)
- OPUS (Aalen University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Applications
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Powder Metallurgy Techniques and Materials
- Keywords
- microwave sintering, lunar regolith simulant, dielectric heating, porosity, microstructure, crystallization, mechanical properties, macrocrack formation, in-situ resource utilization
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