(Yicai) Dec. 1 -- Zhu Meifang, a Chinese scientist who has studied fibers for over three decades, is exploring how to create a new construction material out of moon rocks to build a station on the moon.

Zhu, director of the State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials at Shanghai's Donghua University, and since September, her team has been studying lunar soil brought back by Chang’e-5, China's fifth lunar exploration mission, to turn lunar basalt into high-performance fibers.

"At that time, six of us went to Beijing, took the train back to Shanghai with a secret box containing lunar soil, and held a small ceremony downstairs in the laboratory to celebrate the realization of the first short-term dream of this project," said Zhu.

Zhu explained to Yicai that there is a difference between volcanic rocks on Earth and the material widely found on the surface of the moon. But zooming in on the fine-grained material is worth it as one percent of basalt fibers could greatly enhance the properties of concrete. Without a fiber treatment, buildings made out of soil would erode without resistance to wind and sand. Moreover, the moon has earthquakes so turning basalt into fiber could play a stabilizing role, she added.

The resources of our planet are limited so developing advanced fiber materials is indispensable in promoting the development of new productivity, Zhu said, adding that one of the remaining fundamental scientific issues is how to form a closed loop of resources.

The next step is to promote the construction of scientific foundations for industrial clusters in Shanghai, per Zhu. The needed scientific apparatus is different from the existing basic devices. Two-thirds of China's fiber industry is concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta and if such a new large scientific device is developed, it can integrate multiple elements such as talents and funds, she said.

Previous efforts of Zhu's team have been industrialized by more than 30 enterprises across the country.

Zhu is also the vice president of the China Women’s Association for Science and Technology and she calls for more women to devote themselves to scientific research.

Editor: Emmi Laine