Description

Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy: Hindustanbusinessline.com

Context:

Researchers at IIT-Madras extracted silicon carbide (SiC) from simulated lunar soil (regolith), a critical step toward creating lightweight, durable building materials for future moon habitats.

About Silicon Carbide

Silicon carbide (SiC), also known as carborundum, is a compound of silicon and carbon.

It is made of silicon and carbon, used in a variety of applications, including abrasives, semiconductors, and structural ceramics.

It can be found in meteorites in small quantities, but it's also mass-produced by fusing silica sand and carbon in an electric furnace.

Properties

Hardness: Silicon carbide is very hard, often ranking as the third hardest material after diamond and boron nitride.
Thermal shock resistance: Silicon carbide is resistant to thermal shock, with a high decomposition temperature of about 2700°C.
Electrical properties: Silicon carbide is a semiconductor with a wide bandgap.
Insolubility: Silicon carbide is insoluble in water, alcohol, and most acids.

Uses In

Abrasive for glass, stone, ceramics, and more.
High power devices, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and detectors.
Bearings, furnace elements, and other structural ceramic applications.
Protective vests to stop rifle bullets.
Coating for wear resistance, such as on brake linings and electrical contacts.
Mechanical seals found in pumps, compressors, and agitators.

Why is silicon carbide important for lunar colonization?

Silicon carbide is a lightweight, ultra-strong material used in abrasives, semiconductors, and heat-resistant composites. On the moon, it could form the basis of radiation-shielded habitats, tools, or infrastructure, reducing reliance on Earth-sourced materials.

How did the researchers team source lunar regolith for experiments?

Since real lunar soil is scarce (only 382 kg exists on Earth), the team used simulated highland regolith from Space Resource Technologies and Exolith Labs. Highland soil is rich in silicon, aluminum, and calcium oxides.

Lunar highlands contain up to 20% silicon oxide, making them ideal for extracting silicon. This contrasts with the iron-rich plains (maria), which are less suited for SiC production.

Silicon carbide requires carbon, which is rare on the moon. The team solved this by using methane—a byproduct of the Sabatier process used on the ISS to convert astronaut-exhaled CO₂ into methane and water.

Sabatier Process

The Sabatier process, used on the ISS to recycle CO₂ into methane, provides a readily available carbon source for lunar SiC production. This creates a closed-loop system: astronaut breath → methane → building materials.

The team combined highland regolith simulant with methane at high temperatures in a controlled environment. This triggered a chemical reaction that extracted silicon from the soil and bonded it with carbon from methane to form SiC.

What are the next steps for this research?

The team aims to scale up production, optimize the process for lunar conditions (e.g., low gravity, extreme temperatures), and develop SiC-based composites strong enough for construction. Their findings are currently under peer review.

This work align with global lunar exploration goals

NASA, ESA, and ISRO prioritize in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) to cut mission costs. Producing SiC on the moon reduces the need to transport building materials from Earth, enabling sustainable colonization.

Way Forward

The process could inspire cheaper, greener methods to produce silicon carbide for semiconductors, electric vehicles, or renewable energy systems, reducing dependence on carbon-intensive Earth mining.

Must Read Articles:

INDIA'S 1st SILICON CARBIDE MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN ODISHA

MOON'S AGE REVISED TO 4.46 BILLION YEARS

MOONS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Source:

THE HINDU BUSINESSLINE

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements:

1. Lunar regolith is rich in silicon, aluminium, and calcium oxides.

2. Silicon carbide can be used to build lightweight and strong lunar habitats.

3. Simulated lunar soil is not used in research due to its unavailability.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A) Only one

B) Only two

C) All three

D) None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Lunar regolith, particularly in the highlands, contains anorthosite (rich in calcium and aluminum) and basaltic materials (rich in silicon). These elements are present as oxides like SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and CaO.

Statement 2 is correct: Silicon carbide (SiC) is a durable, lightweight ceramic material. Proposals for lunar construction often include using regolith-derived silicon and carbon (if available) to create such materials for habitats.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Simulated lunar soil (regolith simulant) is widely used in research precisely because real lunar soil is scarce. Simulants replicate lunar soil properties for experiments.