Near Room Temperature Production of Segregated Network Composites of Carbon Nanotubes and Regolith as Multifunctional, Extra‐Terrestrial Building Materials

Abstract

Constructing a semi‐permanent base on the moon or Mars will require maximal use of materials found in situ and minimization of materials and equipment transported from Earth. This will mean a heavy reliance on regolith (Lunar or Marian soil) and water, supplemented by small quantities of additives fabricated on Earth. Here it is shown that SiO2‐based powders, as well as Lunar and Martian regolith simulants, can be fabricated into building materials at near‐ambient temperatures using only a few weight‐percent of carbon nanotubes as a binder. These composites have compressive strength and toughness up to 100 MPa and 3 MPa respectively, higher than the best terrestrial concretes. They are electrically conductive (>20 S m−1) and display an extremely large piezoresistive response (gauge factor >600), allowing these composites to be used as internal sensors to monitor the structural health of extra‐terrestrial buildings.