Abstract
This study aims to investigate the characteristics and engineering properties of the dry-mix/steam-injection method (DMSIM) which was developed to overcome difficulties involved in vacuum conditions of the lunar environment. A comparison was made to examine the differences in the hydration process, mechanical properties and the composition of hydration products between DMSIM and the normal-temperature wet-mix method (NTWMM). In DMSIM, when dry cement particles come in contact with steam, heat immediately transfers from the steam to the cement, with part of the steam being forced into the inner regions of the cement particles via the micropores. As cement particles gain activation energy and moisture condensed from steam, they undergo rapid and complete hydration. Test results showed that the optimal steaming temperature for dry-mix samples of cement and standard sand is 180–200°C and the optimal steaming scenario for 10 cm 3 samples of concrete is at 200°C for 18 h. The present DMSIM has advantages of lower cement content, shorter hardening time and higher concrete strengths, as compared to NTWMM.
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