NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Materials Refining for Solar Array Production on the MoonSilicon, aluminum, and glass are the primary raw materials that will be required for production of solar arrays on the moon. A process sequence is proposed for producing these materials from lunar regolith, consisting of separating the required materials from lunar rock with fluorine. The fluorine is brought to the moon in the form of potassium fluoride, and is liberated from the salt by electrolysis in a eutectic salt melt. Tetrafluorosilane produced by this process is reduced to silicon by a plasma reduction stage; the fluorine salts are reduced to metals by reaction with metallic potassium. Fluorine is recovered from residual MgF and CaF2 by reaction with K2O.
Document ID
20060004126
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Landis, Geoffrey A.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 2005
Subject Category
Composite Materials
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2005-214014
E-15331
Meeting Information
Meeting: 29th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
Location: New Orleans, LA
Country: United States
Start Date: May 18, 2002
End Date: May 25, 2002
Sponsors: Societe des Electriciens et Electroniciens, Electron Devices Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Inst.
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 22-319-20-B1
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available