Characterization and reformulation for lunar regolith-based additive manufacturing

Student : GRANIER Julien

Advisor : CUTARD Thierry (ICA Albi) and PINET Patrick (IRAP)

Supervisors : LE MAOULT Yannick (ICA Albi) and CHEVREL Serge (IRAP)

Start : November 2021

Group : PEPS

The objective of the thesis is the development of an additive manufacturing process by powder bed fusion for the making of technical objects from lunar regolith. The work will be divided into three major themes, determined by the composition of the simulant used.

First, the thermal, optical and thermo-optical properties of a reference simulant will be characterized, from room to melting temperature.

The second theme focuses on the variation of the chemical composition and the granulometry of the regolith, covering all the sampling areas considered.

The last theme concerns the addition of metallic powder in the regolith, in order to obtain cermet type microstructures. We will study the impact of this addition on the additive manufacturing process and on the mechanical properties of the final materials, in particular the toughness.

For each of these topics a simulant/process/property relationship will be established, and mechanical test specimens will be developed, allowing to compare and find the most optimized compositions and working conditions.

Search