Sintering of Lunar Glass and Basalt

Experiments were conducted to study the sintering behavior of glass and basalt lunar soil simulants. The degree of sintering was assessed by compressive strength testing and microanalysis. Both crushed glass and basalt sinter significantly at 1000 C, with the basalt attaining its maximum strength at 1100 C. Initial sintering occurs in less than 15 min, and the degree of sintering does not increase significantly with time after about 30 min. Glass sinters more readily than crystalline material. Sintering and devitrification both occur on a time scale of minutes in the heated glass, but sintering is apparently more rapid. The processes of sintering and oxygen release by hydrogen reduction of lunar soil are synergistic, and could be combined to produce two extremely useful products at a lunar base.