Tetramer Technologies Secures $12.5M Contract to Develop Advanced Protective Fabrics for Military Use

Tetramer Technologies, located at 657 S. Mechanic St. in Pendleton, has been awarded a $12.5 million contract to develop advanced protective fabrics for military applications.

This five-year program aims to integrate the company's proprietary metal-organic framework (MOF) bead technology into fabrics designed to protect soldiers operating in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) environments.

The project is funded by the Pentagon-backed Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Consortium.

"This award represents a critical step in advancing a technology that began as a concept at Tetramer over five years ago," said Adam Haldeman, Tetramer's vice president of research and development.

"This support will allow us to transition it into field-ready prototype garments delivering protection to the warfighter in the most demanding operational environments."

Heather Lange, principal investigator at Tetramer, highlighted the significance of the project.

"Our MOF beads are capable of adsorbing and neutralizing CWAs (chemical warfare agents) and TICs (toxic industrial chemicals), offering a new level of defense for those operating in high-stakes environments," Lange said.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with industry leaders to create fabrics that combine functionality, comfort, and safety, addressing the complex needs of today’s warfighters."

Established in 2001 by four Clemson University professors—Drs. Richard J. D. Tilley, Robert A. Rice, S. Douglas Kramer, and James M. DeCicco—Tetramer Technologies initially focused on the semiconductor industry, specializing in photonic materials to improve optical fiber telecommunications.

Over time, the company expanded its expertise to include materials for defense applications, such as protective coatings, biorenewable materials, tire additives, fiber optic coatings, specialty lubricants, and advanced polymer membranes.

In May 2014, Tetramer Technologies invested $1 million to expand its Anderson County facility, increasing laboratory space and creating 25 new jobs.

This expansion enabled the company to hire an additional eight full-time and 10 part-time employees.

The upgraded building includes an additional 2,000 square feet of warehouse space, intended for further expansions in both manufacturing and research and development over the next five years.

In June 2022, Tetramer Technologies received a two-year, $1.15 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop materials that remove heavy metals from industrial waste.

The company collaborates with a diverse range of partners across multiple sectors, including General Motors, Cargill, GE Renewable Energy, Kappler, and the VBASE Oil Company.

Tetramer also partners with academic institutions like Clemson University and research organizations such as the South Carolina Research Authority.