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High-temperature interactions and property analysis in molten regolith electrolysis: refractory selection and molten oxide behavior
Lensing, Mitchell John
Lensing, Mitchell John
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2024
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As humanity advances toward sustained lunar and planetary exploration, the development of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies is crucial for reducing logistical costs and enabling long-term missions. This study contributes to the NASA-funded Molten Aluminum Generation for Manufacturing Additively (MAGMA) LuSTR grant, aimed at extracting metals from lunar regolith for construction purposes. The research focuses on material compatibility between refractory ceramics and molten oxide behavior, including resistivity and viscosity.
Through this work, the viscosity and resistivity of molten lunar regolith simulants at various stages of electrolysis were characterized, providing valuable data for reactor design and tap geometries. A range of refractory materials—including alumina, zirconia, boron nitride, and graphite—were tested for corrosion resistance and wetting behavior with molten oxides. Among these, boron nitride and graphite exhibited the greatest resilience to chemical attack, while alumina failed across all oxide melt compositions.
These insights will inform the design of tap systems for MRE reactors and contribute to the broader goal of advancing ISRU technologies.
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