About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Additive Manufacturing and Innovative Feedstock Processing for Multifunctional Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
Laser Powder-Directed Energy Deposition of Lunar Regolith and Lunar-Derived Materials in Argon and Vacuum Environments |
| Author(s) |
Eddie Gienger, Avi Bregman, Christopher Stiles, Christian Sanjurjo-Rodriguez, Steven Storck, Elizabeth Pogue, Adrian Podpirka, Denise Yin, Ann Choi, Leslie Hamilton, Morgan Trexler |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Avi Bregman |
| Abstract Scope |
In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) will be critical for sustainable lunar infrastructure, and additive manufacturing (AM) offers a promising pathway to fabricate components directly on the Moon. This study investigates the laser powder-directed energy deposition (DED) of lunar regolith simulant and engineered lunar-derived alloy compositions under both argon and vacuum environments. Processing in vacuum, representative of the lunar surface, introduces unique thermal and microstructural effects due to reduced heat dissipation and the absence of shielding gases. This study details the vacuum DED setup and covers comprehensive characterization, including hardness testing, XCT imaging, and SEM/EDS analysis. This revealed significant differences in porosity, microstructure, and mechanical properties between vacuum- and argon-processed materials. These findings highlight the opportunities of AM in vacuum and emphasize the advantages of tailored lunar alloys over unprocessed regolith. The work provides critical insights for advancing ISRU-based manufacturing systems on the Moon. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Powder Materials, Mechanical Properties |