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2025 Vol.41, Issue 6 Preview Page
Experimental Assessment of System Configuration Effects on Size Enhancement of Microwave-Sintered Blocks

마이크로파 소결 블록 크기 향상을 위한 시스템 구성 영향 평가

Hyunwoo Jin1*
,
Young-Jae Kim2
,
Jangguen Lee3
진 현우1*
,
김 영재2
,
이 장근3
1Member, Senior Researcher, Department of Future & Smart Construction Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engrg. and Building Technolog
2Senior Researcher, Department of Future & Smart Construction Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engrg. and Building Technology
3Member, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Future & Smart Construction Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engrg. and Building Technology
1정회원, 한국건설기술연구원 미래스마트건설연구본부 수석연구원
2비회원, 한국건설기술연구원 미래스마트건설연구본부 수석연구원
3정회원, 한국건설기술연구원 미래스마트건설연구본부 선임연구위원
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2025. pp. 107-117
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Abstract

Interest in lunar in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) has grown with discoveries of potential resources such as water ice and He-3 on the Moon. Technologies that solidify lunar regolith are thus crucial for sustainable deep-space missions. Building on previous work, this study produced sintered blocks (~200 mm × 200 mm × 60 mm) using a 9 kW microwave sintering furnace and evaluated how system configuration (microwave output and location, placement of silicon carbide susceptor pieces) and sintering temperature affect block uniformity. A homogeneous sintered block was achieved at a microwave output of 2.1 kW, with susceptor pieces placed on both sides and a sintering temperature of 1,050°C. Physical and mechanical testing of cored samples indicated that the region on the backside of the microwave output location exhibited lower sintering efficiency than other positions.

Keywords
In-situ resource utilization
Microwave sintering
Sintering efficiency
Sintering temperature
System configuration

달 표면에서 얼음 형태의 물, 헬륨-3과 같은 에너지자원이 발견됨에 따라 달은 심우주 탐사를 위한 전초기지로 주목받고 있다. 지속 가능한 심우주 탐사를 위해 현지자원 활용 개념이 주목받음에 따라, 현지재료인 월면토 고형화 기술의 활용 가능성이 증대되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 기존에 선행된 기초연구들에서 얻어진 결과를 토대로 9 kW 급 마이크로파 소결로를 활용해 가로, 세로, 높이가 각각 약 200 mm, 200 mm, 60 mm인 소결 블록을 제작하였다. 이 과정에서 마이크로파 출력량 및 출력 위치, 추가 보조가열재 조각 배치 등의 소결 시스템 구성을 비롯해 소결온도가 균질한 마이크로파 소결 블록 제작에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다. 그 결과 마이크로파 출력 위치와 관계없이 2.1 kW의 출력, 양 측면 보조가열재 조각 배치, 소결온도 1,050°C에서 균질한 소결 블록이 제작되었다. 그러나 코어링된 시편에서 측정된 물리적 및 역학적 특성을 분석한 결과 마이크로파 출력 위치가 후면인 경우 다른 위치에서 출력된 것보다 상대적으로 소결 효율이 낮은 것으로 나타났다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지반공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 41
  • No :6
  • Pages :107-117
  • Received Date : 2025-11-06
  • Revised Date : 2025-11-20
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-21
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2025.41.6.107
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