Speaker
Description
Understanding these adhesive properties of lunar dust particles is vital so dust contamination can be mitigated. The adhesion of these dust particles is driven by a combination of electrostatic and van der Waals forces. The combined effects of the highly variable size and shape of lunar dust particles along with the ultra-high vacuum and radiative environment of the lunar surface, makes understanding the charging of particles and forces responsible for the adhesion of them a complex problem. This research project investigates the adhesion and charging behaviour of lunar dust simulant particles experimentally using nano-indentation techniques in the materials lab at ESA/ESTEC.
The adhesion of lunar dust simulant particles is measured using in-SEM nano-indentation. Anorthosite particles, which compromise a large fraction of the lunar highland regolith, are attached to metal surface using a high stiffness glue the a microforce sensing probe measures the adhesion between the anorthosite particle and silicon. The anorthosite particles are characterised in the SEM after testing has been completed to obtain the size and shape of the individual particles.
The results from these experiments will better inform future adhesion testing and enable informed interpretations of lunar dust adhesion on the Moon based on on-Earth testing results.