Mars Materials and NC State Turn Captured Emissions into Carbon Fiber Precursor for U.S. Supply Chain

Mars Materials and North Carolina State University say they have turned captured industrial emissions into a carbon fiber precursor that can be spun on standard commercial equipment. The material, called Hoigen-C, is designed as a drop-in replacement for conventional PAN precursor, which the U.S. largely imports. The partners say the fiber hit tensile strength and modulus targets in testing and is free of hydrogen cyanide, a toxic byproduct of legacy production. The work matters for more than defense and motorsports. Carbon fiber cores for power lines can raise transmission capacity on existing towers, and a domestic precursor supply would cut a key import dependency. The next test is scale: whether Hoigen-C can match PAN economics and performance in volume, and whether the carbon-negative claim holds up under a full lifecycle review.