Terrestrial LLC Secures Navy SBIR Award to Develop Hemp-Based Thermal Protection System
Terrestrial LLC, an innovative firm based in Utah, has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the U.S. Navy. This $240,000 award supports their project, "Hemp-derived carbon fiber for high-temperature composites," which aims to revolutionize the production of carbon fiber for hypersonic applications by utilizing domestically grown hemp and sustainable "green chemistry" processing.
Modern hypersonic vehicles rely on Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) to resist the extreme aerodynamic heating of high-MACH flight. These shields are primarily composed of carbon fiber derived from rayon or polyacrylonitrile (PAN)—materials currently plagued by fragile, overseas-heavy supply chains and toxic manufacturing processes. Terrestrial LLC is addressing these vulnerabilities by developing a bio-derived alternative. By refining US-grown hemp fibers through mechanical and enzymatic methods, the company eliminates the need for harsh chemical "retting," creating a high-purity cellulose precursor suitable for carbonization.
“By replacing foreign-sourced raw materials with U.S.-grown industrial hemp, Terrestrial hopes to become a key player in the composites ecosystem while contributing to the strength of the U.S. defense industrial base”, said Brandon Kirk, Terrestrial LLC Founder and Owner. If successful, this Phase I proof-of-concept will lead to a Phase II demonstration, where the technology could be scaled for the $21.7B carbon fiber market.
"Nucleus Grow has been instrumental in helping us get started, as a first-time SBIR applicant and now a successful awardee,” said Brandon Kirk. “As we kick off Phase 1 and start preparing for Phase 2, we're excited to continue our collaboration with them, as we know that their support will help give us the best chance of success."
Companies interested in pursuing non-dilutive research and development funding through the federal SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs can contact the Nucleus Institute at Grow@Nucleusutah.org.