Method of production and use of a nano-regolith for preparing a construction material for extraterrestial purposes
View Patent ↗A use of nano-regolith for preparing a construction material, wherein the particle size of the nano-regolith is between 2 nm and 100 nm and a method for production of a modified regolith powder, comprising the steps of: a) acquiring a batch regolith, b) forming the modified regolith powder with an average particle size of between 2 nm and 100 nm, wherein forming the modified regolith powder is performed by grinding the batch regolith in a rotating ball mill, wherein the ball mill includes a plurality of mill balls, wherein the average particle size of the modified regolith powder produced is between 2 nm and 100 nm, and a method for production of a modified regolith suspension, comprising the steps of: a) acquiring a batch regolith, b) forming the modified regolith powder with an average particle size of between 2 nm and 100 nm, wherein forming the modified regolith powder is performed by grinding the batch regolith in a rotating ball mill, wherein the ball mill includes a plurality of mill balls, wherein the average particle size of the modified regolith powder produced is between 2 nm and 100 nm. c) forming a suspension of the modified regolith powder d) placing the suspension of the modified regolith powder in an ultrasonic liquid bath for 5-30 min to disperse the modified regolith powder for geochemical fractionation.
1 . A method for production of a modified regolith powder, comprising the steps of: a) acquiring a batch regolith, b) forming the modified regolith powder with an average particle size of between 2 nm and 100 nm, wherein the step b) of forming the modified regolith powder is performed by grinding the batch regolith in a rotating ball mill, wherein the ball mill includes a plurality of mill balls, wherein the average particle size of the modified regolith powder produced in step c) is between 2 nm and 100 nm.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the batch regolith to the plurality of the mill balls is between 1:15 and 1:30 wt/wt.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ball mill is configured to rotate at a rotational speed between 600 rpm and 4200 rpm.
4 . A method for production of a modified regolith suspension, comprising the steps of:
a) acquiring a batch regolith,
b) forming the modified regolith powder with an average particle size of between 2 nm and 100 nm, wherein forming the modified regolith powder is performed by grinding the batch regolith in a rotating ball mill, wherein the ball mill includes a plurality of mill balls, wherein the average particle size of the modified regolith powder produced is between 2 nm and 100 nm,
c) forming a suspension of the modified regolith powder,
d) placing the suspension of the modified regolith powder in an ultrasonic liquid bath for 5-30 min to disperse the modified regolith powder for geochemical fractionation.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step c) of forming a suspension of the modified regolith powder includes forming the suspension of the modified regolith powder with a weight ratio of the modified regolith powder to the liquid between 1:100 wt/wt and 18:100 wt/wt.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step c) of forming the suspension of the modified regolith powder includes mixing the modified regolith powder and the liquid in an ultrasonic homogenizer.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the modified regolith powder and the liquid is mixed in the ultrasonic homogenizer for the period of time between 10 minutes and 45 minutes.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the liquid is a water.
9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the liquid is a geopolymer.