Broad-based Aerosol Powder Production Patent Issued to Superior MicroPowders

Superior MicroPowders, LLC (SMP) announces the issuance of its latest patent for advanced powder manufacture.

February 4, 2002 - Albuquerque, NM - Superior MicroPowders, LLC (SMP, www.smp1.com) announces the issuance of its latest patent for advanced powder manufacture.

SMPs newly issued patent, US 6,338,809, entitled Aerosol Method and Apparatus, Particulate Products and Electronic Devices Made Therefrom" is SMPs latest US patent to issue and protects SMPs manufacturing process to produce a wide variety of materials for fuel cells, batteries and electronic components. This patent contains 108 claims regarding manufacturing methods for powder-based materials with special emphasis on methods to produce metal/carbon and metal/metal oxide materials used in fuel cell reformers and MEAs.

The broad claim sets in US 6,338,809 provide protection for a wide variety of compositions including precious metal, non-precious metal and metal alloy/carbon electrocatalysts. The issuance of this patent, in combination with complimentary SMP patents such as US 6,103,393, reinforces SMPs already strong position in supported catalysts, especially metal/carbon electrocatalysts, produced by spray-based routes.

This is the most general and fundamental method patent issued to Superior MicroPowders to date," comments Dr. Toivo Kodas, SMP Co-founder, Director and VP. US 6,338,809 contains a host of broad claims that offer protection on our aerosol powder production process. It also contains claims specifically addressing spray-based methods for generating powders containing a metallic phase, including specifically platinum, and a non-metallic phase, including specifically carbon, exactly the compositions used in fuel cells. Furthermore, from this base patent, an additional divisional patent having the same priority date will issue focusing on particular electrocatalyst compositions. This divisional patent, which will be issued by mid-2002, will further strengthen SMPs intellectual property position in fuel cell technology."

US 6,338,809 is SMPs 13th issued patent in the companys rapidly expanding patent portfolio. This portfolio covers the methods, apparatus, compositions and in many cases end-use devices incorporating SMPs advanced materials systems. A significant number of additional new patents are expected to issue throughout the balance of 2002 and early 2003, which will further broaden SMPs IP portfolio covering its core target markets including fuel cells, batteries, microelectronics and displays.

About Superior MicroPowders
Superior MicroPowders (www.smp1.com) is a privately held, advanced materials technology provider based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. SMP develops and manufactures high performance materials systems for a range of challenging applications including:

·   Fuel cell electrocatalysts and MEAs with very low precious metal content
·   Materials systems for next generation thin-form batteries
·   Advanced electronic and display materials

Building upon an array of unique material production platforms, SMPs competencies in ink formulation and deposition provide customers with the support necessary to transition to significantly improved material sets.

Contact(s):
Dr. James Caruso, caruso@smp1.com
Manager, Sales & Marketing
Superior MicroPowders, LLC
3740 Hawkins NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Phone: (505) 342-1492, Fax: (505) 342-2168, www.smp1.com

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