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Physical, mechanical, and microstructural characterization of NUW-LHT-5M lunar highland simulant through spark plasma sintering.

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Title: Physical, mechanical, and microstructural characterization of NUW-LHT-5M lunar highland simulant through spark plasma sintering.
Authors: Jeon, In Kyu1 (AUTHOR) wjsdlsrb5474@tamu.edu, Kim, Yong-Rak1 (AUTHOR) yong-rak.kim@tamu.edu, Rickman, Douglas L.2 (AUTHOR) douglas.l.rickman@nasa.gov
Source: Advances in Space Research. Dec2025, Vol. 76 Issue 11, p7073-7082. 10p.
Subjects: Construction materials, Sintering, Mechanical behavior of materials, Microstructure, Lunar soil, United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration, Aerospace industries
Abstract: For achieving permanent habitation of mankind on the Moon, the development of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) construction materials is imperative, and the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method has been regarded as a promising option due to its accelerated densification process, enhanced microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. This study investigates the effects of sintering temperature (800 °C, 900 °C, and 1000 °C) on the physical, mechanical, and microstructural characteristics of a new NASA lunar highland simulant (NUW-LHT-5M) targeting potential landing sites near the lunar south pole region. Laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the fundamental characteristics of the simulant in its raw powder and spark plasma sintered at varying temperatures. SPS at 1000 °C produced higher strength up to around 160 MPa, compared to 46 MPa at 900 °C and 12 MPa at 800 °C. Mineralogical and microstructural analysis indicated that elevated sintering temperatures yielded crystalline phases with high values of modulus and hardness and promoted microstructural homogeneity, both contributing to improving mechanical strength. The findings of this study imply the feasibility of using SPS as a promising ISRU method on the lunar south pole region to produce high density-strength construction materials without the need for water and other additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Advances in Space Research is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 188881266
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Physical, mechanical, and microstructural characterization of NUW-LHT-5M lunar highland simulant through spark plasma sintering.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jeon%2C+In+Kyu%22">Jeon, In Kyu</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> wjsdlsrb5474@tamu.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Yong-Rak%22">Kim, Yong-Rak</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yong-rak.kim@tamu.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rickman%2C+Douglas+L%2E%22">Rickman, Douglas L.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> douglas.l.rickman@nasa.gov</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Advances+in+Space+Research%22">Advances in Space Research</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 76 Issue 11, p7073-7082. 10p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Construction+materials%22">Construction materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sintering%22">Sintering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mechanical+behavior+of+materials%22">Mechanical behavior of materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microstructure%22">Microstructure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lunar+soil%22">Lunar soil</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%2E+National+Aeronautics+%26+Space+Administration%22">United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aerospace+industries%22">Aerospace industries</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: For achieving permanent habitation of mankind on the Moon, the development of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) construction materials is imperative, and the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method has been regarded as a promising option due to its accelerated densification process, enhanced microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. This study investigates the effects of sintering temperature (800 °C, 900 °C, and 1000 °C) on the physical, mechanical, and microstructural characteristics of a new NASA lunar highland simulant (NUW-LHT-5M) targeting potential landing sites near the lunar south pole region. Laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the fundamental characteristics of the simulant in its raw powder and spark plasma sintered at varying temperatures. SPS at 1000 °C produced higher strength up to around 160 MPa, compared to 46 MPa at 900 °C and 12 MPa at 800 °C. Mineralogical and microstructural analysis indicated that elevated sintering temperatures yielded crystalline phases with high values of modulus and hardness and promoted microstructural homogeneity, both contributing to improving mechanical strength. The findings of this study imply the feasibility of using SPS as a promising ISRU method on the lunar south pole region to produce high density-strength construction materials without the need for water and other additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Advances in Space Research is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.asr.2025.09.052
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 10
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      – SubjectFull: Construction materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sintering
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mechanical behavior of materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microstructure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lunar soil
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aerospace industries
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Physical, mechanical, and microstructural characterization of NUW-LHT-5M lunar highland simulant through spark plasma sintering.
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            NameFull: Jeon, In Kyu
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            NameFull: Kim, Yong-Rak
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            NameFull: Rickman, Douglas L.
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              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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