Thermal characterization of glasses prepared from simulated compositions of lunar soil JSC-1A

The thermal conductivity (K), thermal diffusivity (α), and specific heat capacity (ρc) for a glass prepared from JSC-1A lunar soil simulant were measured using a combination of open photoacoustic cell (OPC) and thermal relaxation techniques. The values of K and α for the JSC-1A glass were (20 ± 3) mW/cmK and (14 ± 2) cm2/s, respectively, and are somewhat larger than those of the comparable silicate glasses. The specific heat capacity (ρc) for this glass was (1.44 ± 0.07) J/cm3K, which is a little smaller than the comparable silicate glasses. Materials with high values of K and α rapidly adjust their temperature with that of their surrounding atmosphere, making them more resistant to mechanical failure occurring due to thermal shock.