C08H DERIVATIVES OF NATURAL MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- Class:
- ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- Subclass:
- DERIVATIVES OF NATURAL MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
Description
C08H covers chemical modifications and derivatives of naturally occurring macromolecules, including cellulose, starch, proteins, and polysaccharides obtained from plant or animal sources. This classification encompasses chemical reactions such as esterification, etherification, crosslinking, and substitution applied to natural polymers to alter their properties. Typical applications include modified cellulose products (acetates, ethers), chemically treated starches for industrial use, and protein-based materials with enhanced functionality. Adjacent classes C08B (polysaccharides) and C08G (synthetic macromolecular compounds) are distinguished by focusing on naturally derived starting materials rather than fully synthetic polymers or unmodified natural substances.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass C08H recorded 8,757 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 837 in 2013 to 689 in 2023 (-18%), peaking at 896 applications in 2021. The most active applicants in class C08 are LG CHEM (14,262 applications), DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES (12,486 applications) and BASF (BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABRIK) (9,858 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
C08H ranks 7th of 8 subclasses with filings in C08, with 8,757 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.5% of the class. Annual filings declined 18% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+10%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C08L, Compositions of Macromolecular Compounds | Compositions of Macromolecular Compounds | 517,484 | 29.9% |
| 2 | C08K, Use of Inorganic or Non-Macromolecular Organic Substances as Compounding Ingredients | Use of Inorganic or Non-Macromolecular Organic Substances as Compounding Ingredients | 379,183 | 21.9% |
| 3 | C08G, Macromolecular Compounds Obtained Otherwise Than by Reactions Only Involving Carbon-To-Carbon Unsaturated Bonds | Macromolecular Compounds Obtained Otherwise Than by Reactions Only Involving Carbon-To-Carbon Unsaturated Bonds | 283,424 | 16.4% |
| 4 | C08J, Working-Up; General Processes of Compounding; After-Treatment Not Covered by Subclasses , , , or | Working-Up; General Processes of Compounding; After-Treatment Not Covered by Subclasses , , , or | 263,834 | 15.3% |
| 5 | C08F, Macromolecular Compounds Obtained by Reactions Only Involving Carbon-To-Carbon Unsaturated Bonds | Macromolecular Compounds Obtained by Reactions Only Involving Carbon-To-Carbon Unsaturated Bonds | 222,013 | 12.8% |
| 6 | C08B, Polysaccharides; Derivatives Thereof | Polysaccharides; Derivatives Thereof | 45,717 | 2.6% |
| 7 | C08H | Derivatives of Natural Macromolecular Compounds | 8,757 | 0.5% |
| 8 | C08C, Treatment or Chemical Modification of Rubbers | Treatment or Chemical Modification of Rubbers | 7,557 | 0.4% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
Factice Vulcanised oil, used as a substitute for rubber.
Limiting references
Food proteins e.g. Polysaccharides Natural rubber Graft polymers obtained by polymerising monomers on to polysaccharides, natural rubbers or derivatives thereof , Compositions of bituminous materials, e.g. asphalt, tar or pitch Natural resins or their derivatives Glue, gelatine Working up pitch, asphalt or bitumen
5 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- C08H 1/00 Macromolecular products derived from proteins
- C08H 3/00 Vulcanised oils, e.g. factice
- C08H 7/00 Lignin; Modified lignin; High-molecular-weight products derived therefrom
- C08H 8/00 Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials
- C08H 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class C08, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- LG CHEM KR 14,262
- DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES US 12,486
- BASF (BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABRIK) DE 9,858
- SINOPEC (CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION) 7,877
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 6,993
- FUJIFILM JP 5,049
- 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY (MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY) US 4,923
- SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL COMPANY JP 4,517
- BOREALIS AT 4,213
- ARKEMA FR 4,098