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IPC Class
C04

CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES

Classification Context

Section:
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
Class:
CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES

Description

Class C04 covers the chemistry and manufacturing of inorganic binder materials, composite stone products, and high-temperature materials. It encompasses portland cements, calcium aluminates, concrete compositions and their reinforcement, artificial stone aggregates, ceramic bodies and glazes, and refractory materials used in furnaces and kilns. This broad class includes formulation methods, processing techniques, and quality control of these materials across construction, industrial, and thermal applications.

Filing statistics

IPC C04 recorded 267,018 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 1 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 18,185 in 2013 to 23,514 in 2023 (+29%), peaking at 27,426 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class C04 are CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (2,095 applications), WUHAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (1,205 applications) and NGK INSULATORS (1,133 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

1 direct subcode

Child Classifications

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Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2,095
  2. WUHAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 1,205
  3. NGK INSULATORS JP 1,133
  4. HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES GROUP US 1,049
  5. SIKA TECHNOLOGY CH 1,041
  6. GUILIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 807
  7. WUHAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 806
  8. SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY 801
  9. CORNING US 777
  10. UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY US 739