ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES EXPANDS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIO WITH NEW U.S. PATENT ISSUE

U.S. Patent 6,974,566 Protects Manufacturing Process of Mixed Metal Oxides From Aqueous Solutions

[ClickPress, Mon Dec 19 2005] Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTI), today announced that the U.S. Patent Office issued Altair U.S. Patent 6,974,566 a ‘Method For Producing Mixed Metal Oxides and Metal Oxide Compounds’. The patent describes the process and underlying technology for the manufacture of mixed metal oxides and metal oxide compounds from aqueous solutions.

The patent extends Altairnano’s platform technology and expands Altairnano’s intellectual property for manufacture of metal oxide nano-structured materials. The process is currently used to manufacture the following Altairnano products:

• Titanium dioxide pigment, as embodied in Altairnano’s proprietary Hydrochloride Pigment process (AHP).
• Nano-sized titanium dioxide used as photo-catalytic materials to remove air born contaminates like smoke or food odors and for self-cleaning surfaces.
• Nano-structured lithium titanate spinel electrode materials used in high power lithium ion batteries.
• Stabilized Zirconia materials for use as nano-sized, spray-grade powers for thermal coatings and for nano-structured dental products.
• Aluminum-Titanium and yttrium oxide used in nano-sized thermal spray grade powders.

Altairnano continues to expend significant resources to pioneer, develop and protect advanced ceramic nanotechnology used in numerous product applications.


ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC.

Altairnano is a leading supplier and innovator of advanced ceramic nanomaterial technology. Based in Reno, Nevada, Altairnano has assembled a unique team of materials scientists who, coupled in collaborative ventures with industry partners and leading academic centers, have pioneered an array of intellectual property and products.

Altairnano's robust proprietary technology platforms produce a variety of crystalline and non-crystalline nanomaterials of unique structure, performance, quality and cost. The company has scalable manufacturing capability to meet emerging nanomaterials demands. Altairnano's two divisions, Life Sciences and Performance Materials, are focused on applications where its nanotechnology may enable new high growth markets. The Life Sciences Division is pursuing market applications in pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, dental materials and other medical markets. The Performance Materials Division is focused on market applications in advanced materials for paints and coatings; air and water treatment and alternative energy including new lithium ion battery electrode materials. For additional information on Altairnano and its nanomaterials, visit www.altairnano.com


Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company's actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks that any patents granted to Altairnano may be invalidated or circumvented, that competitors may develop alternative processes that are similar or superior to those patented by Altairnano, that the products referenced in this release (or end products incorporating such products) will not be developed to the point of commercialization, that, even if commercialized, no market will exist for such products or that Altair or its partners will fail to effectively market to end products produced using Altairnano’s proprietary processes. In addition, other risks are identified in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in company expectations or results or any change in events.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Investor and Financial Relations:
Marty Tullio or Mark D. Tullio
McCloud Communications, LLC
949.553.9748
marty@mccloudcommunications.com
mark@mccloudcommunications.com


Company Contact:
Robert Pedraza
VP Strategy & Business Development
Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.
775.856.2500
rpedraza@altairnano.com

# # # #

Bookmark this release: Del.icio.us - Digg - Furl - Blinklist - Reddit