ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES NEW U.S. PATENT ISSUE FOR PRODUCING STABILIZED ZIRCONIA

U.S. Patent 6,982,073 Protects Innovative Process for Applications in Thermal Spray Powders and Dental Materials

[ClickPress, Fri Jan 06 2006] Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTI) today announced that the U.S. Patent Office issued Altair U.S. Patent 6,982,073 for a ‘Process for Making Nano-sized Stabilized Zirconia.’ The patent specifies an economical method of making high quality, nano-sized stabilized zirconia, a material that can be used in a wide range of industrial applications.

“As a leader and innovator in nanotechnology, our strategy provides for dedicating significant resources to pioneer, develop and secure our advanced ceramic nanotechnology innovations,” said Altairnano CEO, Alan J. Gotcher, Ph.D. “This most recent patent is very valuable in that it protects our method for economically making nano-sized stabilized zirconia, a key component in multiple, diverse applications including the substantial thermal spray coatings industry, dental materials, and alternative energy products.”

The patented process is currently used for the manufacture of several Altairnano zirconia nanomaterials and products that are dependent on the toughness, wear resistance, hardness, and low thermal conductivity exhibited by the nano-sized stabilized zirconia. These materials include thermal spray-grade powders for thermal coatings where zirconia products represent over 70% of the market today, biocompatible materials such as nano zirconia ceramic dental fillings and bone cement for improved medical applications, and materials for use in secondary alternative energy initiatives such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).


ABOUT 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

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