CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF NATURAL FILAMENTARY OR FIBROUS MATERIAL TO OBTAIN FILAMENTS OR FIBRES FOR SPINNING; CARBONISING RAGS TO RECOVER ANIMAL FIBRES

Description

D01C covers chemical and biological treatment processes applied to natural filamentary or fibrous materials to prepare them for spinning into threads or yarns. This includes treatments such as retting, bleaching, mercerization, and enzymatic processes that modify the physical or chemical properties of natural fibers to enhance their spinnability and quality. The subclass also encompasses carbonization techniques used to recover animal fibers (such as wool or hair) from textile waste and rags by removing organic contaminants. Related processes for man-made fiber production and treatments of already-prepared fibers for downstream textile manufacturing are classified elsewhere.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass D01C recorded 1,738 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 79 in 2013 to 121 in 2023 (+53%), peaking at 238 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class D01 are TORAY INDUSTRIES (1,268 applications), MASCHINENFABRIK RIETER (1,200 applications) and NATIONAL DONG HWA UNIVERSITY (955 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings