Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: NaturalNano and Cascade Engineering Sign Joint Development Agreement

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Abstract:
Companies to Develop Practical Applications for Cutting-Edge Pleximer(TM) Nanocomposite

NaturalNano and Cascade Engineering Sign Joint Development Agreement

ROCHESTER, NY | Posted on May 2nd, 2007

NaturalNano, Inc. (OTCBB: NNAN) (FRANKFURT: N3N) ( http://www.naturalnano.com ), an innovative materials science company, today announced that it has entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Cascade Engineering, a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative plastics solutions for multiple markets, including the polymer composites industry. This is the second JDA that NaturalNano has announced in the second quarter of 2007.

The new partnership will center on commercializing NaturalNano's Pleximer™ products for a wide-range of industries. Pleximer™, an innovative turn-key nanocomposite additive, will have a substantial impact on the properties of polymer composites, namely enabling the development of stronger, lighter materials. Pleximer provides a low cost alternative for the polymer nanocomposites market, which is the fastest growing segment of the polymer composites industry. The segment is predicted to more than double in size from $300M today to $740M by 2010.

"We are looking forward to working with NaturalNano to develop a product whose virtually limitless applications have the potential to substantially improve the design and safety of the everyday products people use," said Fred Keller, Cascade Engineering's Chairman, President and CEO. "With its focus on strengthening products at the Nano scale and potentially extending their life cycle, our partnership is also an excellent opportunity for Cascade to undertake yet another strategic initiative that advances sustainability and helps leave a smaller environmental footprint."

"Our partnership with Cascade Engineering is a critical step in our path to Pleximer's commercialization and introduction into the market in 2007," said Cathy Fleischer, PhD, President and Chief Technology Officer of NaturalNano. "By combining our halloysite nanotube surface functionalization and compatibilization technology with Cascade's expertise in polymer compounding and molding, we will be able to meet our Pleximer commercialization timeline. In addition, this will help us to produce materials with unique characteristics to create the next generation of products."

Both NaturalNano and Cascade Engineering anticipate applications in numerous products, leading to utilization of filled halloysite nanotubes (HNT™) to develop materials with unique functionality such as flame retardance and antimicrobial properties.

The companies' joint development collaboration is an important benchmark in Pleximer's development timeline. Over the last several months, NaturalNano demonstrated the production of polypropylene and nylon Pleximer on a pilot and manufacturing scale. The resulting materials exhibited excellent dispersion and improved the mechanical properties of the polymer. The highly concentrated Pleximer product would be added to pure polymer in the final molding process by Cascade Engineering to obtain nanocomposite materials with the desired properties for a wide-range of applications.

NaturalNano and Cascade Engineering now plan to pursue jointly developed accreditation testing, application definitions and formula optimization that will be used in the pilot and manufacturing processes to produce Pleximer-based nanocomposites for multiple polymer systems.

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About NaturalNano, Inc.
NaturalNano, Inc. (OTCBB: NNAN) (FRANKFURT: N3N) is a nanotechnology and materials science company developing proprietary technologies and processes for adding competitive properties to a wide-range of applications. These include industrial polymers, plastics and composites; and additives to cosmetics, personal care, and other products. NaturalNano holds and licenses over twenty patents and applications, as well as proprietary know-how for extraction and separation processes, compositions, and derivatives of halloysite and other nanotubes. For more information, please visit http://www.naturalnano.com

About Cascade Engineering: Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cascade Engineering is shaping ideas in plastics through the development, engineering and manufacturing of plastics products. The Company is a leader in engineered plastic systems and components for the solid waste, automotive and industrial markets. The Company also produces components for OEM customers as well as Cascade Engineering branded products. Cascade Engineering is also widely recognized for its sustainable business and management practices. For more information, please visit
http://www.cascadeng.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and future performance of NaturalNano that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factors disclosure contained in certain of NaturalNano's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The most recent annual reports on Form 10-KSB and quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB filed by NaturalNano provide information about these factors, which may be revised or supplemented in future reports to the SEC on those forms or on Form 8-K. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other such factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where expressly required by law.

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Contacts:
NaturalNano, Inc.
Ginny Brandreth
585-267-4810

Cascade Engineering
Patrick Kane
Lambert, Edwards & Assoc.
616-233-0500

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