America’s Leading Manufacturer of Rare Earth and Advanced Material Products

        U.S. SALES & ADMINISTRATION: SUITE 2000 1093 BROXTON AVE. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  90024

March 13, 2002

PRESS RELEASE

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN ELEMENTS ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW YTTRIFINE™ YTTRIUM OXIDE PRODUCT

[ March 13, 2002, Los Angeles , CA ] American Elements announced today the development of a new high purity yttrium oxide to be marketed under the trade name Yttrifine™. The material was developed for use in certain advanced ceramic applications. Applications include as a doping agent in zirconia to produce a superior yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) for use as an electrolyte in oxygen sensors, oxygen generation systems and in solid oxide fuel cell stacks.

The product is available in lot sizes up to 2,000 kg. Small orders are also available for university and corporate R&D applications.

For further technical and pricing information on Yttrifine™, please contact your local American Elements distributor or American Elements U.S. corporate headquarters at (1)310-208-0551, FAX (1)310-208-0351 or customerservice@americanelements.com . American Elements is America’s leading manufacturer and supplier of rare earth and other advanced material products with distribution offices in Europe, Asia and South America.