They built materials capable of withstanding a rocket blast.
The scientists outlined their method for using clay-like topsoil materials to build future space habitats. "If we're going to live and work on another planet like Mars or the moon, we need to make concrete. But we can't take bags of concrete with us—we need to use local resources," said Norman Wagner, Unidel Robert L. Pigford Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware.
The researchers successfully converted simulated lunar and Martian soil into geopolymer cement, which is considered a suitable alternative to traditional cement. They published their findings in the journalGeopolymers are inorganic polymers formed from aluminosilicate minerals. They are found in common clays all over the world. When they are mixed with a solvent with a high pH, the clay can be dissolved, freeing the aluminum and silicon inside to react with other materials.
In their paper, they explain that they were able to make materials in little cubes that have the compressive strength required to withstand the strength of a rocket blast. More investigation is, of course, needed to see how the material will hold up in space conditions. Based on their results though, the researchers laid out a few pointers that could help develop materials in space. Chemical composition and particle size, for example, can play a crucial role in material strength.