C23 COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
Classification Context
- Section:
- CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- Class:
- COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
Description
C23 encompasses processes and methods for modifying metal surfaces through coating, chemical treatment, and vapor deposition techniques. The class covers application of metallic or non-metallic coatings to metal substrates, chemical surface treatments (including passivation and conversion coatings), diffusion treatments altering surface composition, and vacuum-based deposition methods such as evaporation, sputtering, ion implantation, and chemical vapor deposition. It also includes technologies for preventing corrosion, oxidation, and incrustation of metallic materials. Related surface engineering processes such as electroplating and case hardening are typically classified in other sections of metallurgy or organic chemistry.
Filing statistics
IPC C23 recorded 344,095 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 4 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 24,993 in 2013 to 34,707 in 2023 (+39%), peaking at 36,686 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class C23 are APPLIED MATERIALS (8,096 applications), TOKYO ELECTRON (3,985 applications) and CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (2,842 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- C23C COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23D ENAMELLING OF, OR APPLYING A VITREOUS LAYER TO, METALS
- C23F NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACES; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL; INHIBITING INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS OR OR CLASS
- C23G CLEANING OR DEGREASING OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY CHEMICAL METHODS OTHER THAN ELECTROLYSIS
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- APPLIED MATERIALS US 8,096
- TOKYO ELECTRON JP 3,985
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2,842
- LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION US 2,654
- TOKYO ELECTRON 2,540
- NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION JP 2,465
- JFE STEEL JP 2,368
- ASM IP HOLDING NL 2,092
- APPLIED MATERIALS 1,877
- POSCO (POHANG IRON AND STEEL COMPANY) KR 1,782