Starch-Regolith Aerogel Bricks as a Sustainable Building Material for In Situ Extraterrestrial Constructions

Christophe Bliard, Chadi Maalouf (), Mohammed Lachi, Virginie Bogard, Sébastien Murer, Fabien Beaumont, Guillaume Polidori and Fabien Bogard
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Christophe Bliard: Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims (ICMR-UMR 7312 CNRS), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
Chadi Maalouf: Institut de Thermique, Mécanique et Matériaux (ITheMM), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
Mohammed Lachi: Institut de Thermique, Mécanique et Matériaux (ITheMM), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
Virginie Bogard: Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
Sébastien Murer: Institut de Thermique, Mécanique et Matériaux (ITheMM), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
Fabien Beaumont: Institut de Thermique, Mécanique et Matériaux (ITheMM), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
Guillaume Polidori: Institut de Thermique, Mécanique et Matériaux (ITheMM), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
Fabien Bogard: Institut de Thermique, Mécanique et Matériaux (ITheMM), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: Space exploration and the prospect of developing permanent lunar settlements in the near future will require the need for innovative building construction techniques using locally sourced materials, without the need for excessive input of simple, reusable energy. The Moon’s surface is covered by regolith, a superficial layer of unconsolidated heterogeneous dusty aggregate that covers solid bedrock. This material needs to be agglomerated to create a cohesive composite that can be used as building blocks or bricks. In this study, the OPRH2N’s Lunar Regolith Simulant (LRS) was used and agglomerated with Potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) Starch (PS) polymer aerogel. Starch was chosen because of its excellent binding properties at very low concentrations. The resulting low-starch-containing LRS/PS aerogel composite bricks (2 and 4 wt%) were tested for their mechanical and thermal insulation performance to evaluate their potential application in lunar building structures. The composite resistance to intense beta-radiation and very large thermal amplitude was investigated to test the bricks’ resistance. This new lightweight and porous material shows promising mechanical and thermal performance, making it a potential candidate for the construction of larger structures, especially in low gravity.

Keywords: lunar regolith simulant; potato starch; lunar building composite; mechanical properties; thermal properties; cosmic rays; recycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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