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Microcap & Penny Stocks : Isonics Corp. ISON -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Chris Forte who wrote (821)	4/2/1999 9:48:00 PM
From: Max Fletcher	Respond to of 1099

Isonics Corporation and Eagle-Picher Technologies Sign Silicon-28 Agreement GOLDEN, Colo., and JOPLIN, Mo., March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Isonics Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: ISON - news) and Eagle-Picher Technologies, a division of Cincinnati, OH-based diversified manufacturer Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., today jointly announced the signing of an agreement regarding isotopically pure silicon-28. Silicon-28, which is being developed by Isonics into advanced silicon wafers, conducts thermal energy more efficiently than natural silicon. This superior characteristic can result in increased performance and improved chip yields for semiconductor devices. Using its proprietary technology, Eagle-Picher plans to produce silicon-28 at its facility in Quapaw, OK. This agreement opens the door for large-scale and cost-effective domestic manufacture of silicon-28 for the first time and substantially enhances the commercial viability of this product. Isonics has the exclusive rights to patents covering the manufacture of isotopically engineered semiconductor devices. Isonics' President and CEO James E. Alexander stated, ''A primary challenge in developing faster microprocessors is managing the excess heat produced by tightly packed circuitry and transistors. It has been assumed that the semiconductor industry must adopt completely new technologies and spend billions of dollars to overcome this limitation. We feel confident that silicon-28 will play an important role in solving the heat management problems currently facing chip makers, and the elegance of the silicon-28 solution is that while it has better properties than standard silicon, it can be used without any changes in existing semiconductor manufacturing processes.'' Alexander went on to state, ''While it has been shown clearly superior in certain conductivity tests, we have not yet identified the full range of benefits that isotopically pure silicon-28 may ultimately provide the semiconductor industry. Lower cost silicon-28 does make bulk silicon-28 wafers more viable. Isonics plans to offer a family of isotopically pure wafers -- bulk, epitaxial, and silicon-on-insulator -- each targeted and priced for specific applications. We have programs underway with a number of semiconductor manufacturers to evaluate the nature and size of actual benefits of each wafer type.'' Dallas D. Mayfield, Vice President and General Manager of Eagle-Picher's boron isotope department commented, ''We see the potential of isotopically pure silicon-28 and are looking forward to applying our 20 years of experience in stable isotope enrichment to this very large opportunity. The maximum thermal benefit would be provided with wafers made completely from silicon-28, but present costs makes the commercial viability of bulk wafers uncertain. If we are successful at applying our know-how to making silicon-28 inexpensively, bulk silicon-28 wafers will become practical for many applications.'' The joint plans include establishing a pilot plant to demonstrate the capability to produce Si-28 using Eagle-Picher's technology, as well as continuing to provide Si-28 epitaxial wafers to semiconductor device manufacturers for evaluation. Si-28 produced by the pilot plant will be used to produce initial quantities of 200 mm bulk wafers. The time frame for availability of these pilot production bulk wafers is 12 to 18 months. The agreement also calls for Isonics and Eagle-Picher to evaluate alternative business structures which would serve to facilitate rapid development and commercialization of Si-28 and other isotopically engineered products for the semiconductor industry. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed. Isonics is an advanced materials and technology company that develops and commercializes products based on enriched stable isotopes. Stable isotopes can be thought of as ultra-ultra pure materials. This high degree of purification provides enhanced performance properties compared to normal materials. Stable isotopes have commercial uses in several areas, including energy; research, medical diagnostics, and drug development; product tagging and stewardship; semiconductors; lasers; and optical materials. Eagle-Picher is a diversified manufacturer of hundreds of industrial products for the automotive, defense, aerospace, construction and other international markets worldwide. The Company operates 57 plants in the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Spain and Mexico, and employs more than 6,500 people around the globe. Except for historical information contained herein, this document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein. Further, the Company operates in industries where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by regulatory and other factors beyond the Company's control. Other important factors that the Company believes might cause such differences are discussed in the risk factors detailed in the Company's 10-KSB for the year ended April 30, 1998 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In assessing forward-looking statements contained herein, readers are urged to carefully read all cautionary statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE: Isonics Corporation

To: Chris Forte who wrote (821)	4/2/1999 10:13:00 PM
From: Max Fletcher	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1099

I copied the text of last week's release here because I think it is quite significant (the link to this news, posted previously, will eventually expire). Sometime down the road, alot more people will be reading this thread, IMHO. Eagle-Picher would not make this kind of investment if they didn't think they could produce Si28 economically. ISON is in the process of demonstrating the technological benefits of Si28 to chip manufacturers. There appears to be a good chance of success on both counts. ISON will get alot more attention if/when this tech gets validated by a chip manufacturer. Max