IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012
C04B - Definition
This subclass covers:
Chemical aspects of the processing of lime, magnesia or dolomite and of molten slag.
Compositional aspects of:
Physico-chemical aspects of methods for obtaining mortars, concrete, artificial stones or ceramics , e.g. for delaying the setting time of mortar compositions.
Treatment including defibrillating of materials such as fillers , agglomerated or waste materials, or refuse to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone.
Porous mortars, concrete, artificial stone or ceramic ware, and the preparation thereof.
Methods and apparatus for:
After- treatment of artificial stones, mortars, concrete and ceramics , e.g. coating or impregnation of green concrete after primary shaping.
Non-mechanical treatment of natural stone.
Processing powders of inorganic compounds in preparation to the manufacturing of ceramic products .
The joining of burned ceramics with other articles by heating.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Granulating apparatus | B01J 2/00 |
Mechanical features relating to the working of mortars, concrete, stone, clay-wares or ceramics , e.g. mixing or shaping ceramic compositions, boring natural stone | B28 |
Chemical preparation of powders of inorganic compounds | C01 |
Devitrified glass-ceramics | C03C 10/00 |
Compositions containing free metal bonded to carbides, diamond, oxides, borides, nitrides, silicides, e.g. cermets, or other metal compounds, such as oxynitrides or sulfides, other than as macroscopic reinforcing agents | C22C |
Building elements or constructions; Finishing work on buildings | E04 |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Materials for prostheses or for coating prostheses | A61L 27/00 |
Chemical or biological purification of waste gases | B01D 53/34 |
B32B | |
Treating inorganic non-fibrous materials to enhance their pigmenting or filling properties | C09C |
Cementing or plastering compositions for boreholes or wells | C09K 8/00 |
Adhesives | C09J |
Alloys based on refractory metals | C22C |
Shaft or vertical furnaces in general | F27B 1/00 |
Hydraulic hardening materials , e.g. concretes, ceramics or refractories for protection against radiation, i.e. shielding | G21F 1/00 |
Special rules of classification
Active ingredients which react with cement compounds for forming new or modified mineralogical phases and are added before the hardening process, as well as cements added as additives to other cements , are classified in groups C04B 7/00 to C04B 12/00, e.g. in group C04B 7/42.
In each set of groups C04B 7/00 to C04B 32/00 and C04B 41/45 to C04B 41/91, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place, e.g. classifiable subject matter relating to:
an hydraulic cement is classified in main group C04B 7/00;
an admixture of an additive to a cement after the burning step or in the absence of a burning step is classified in one or more of main groups C04B 14/00 to C04B 24/00;
an inorganic accelerator for cement is classified in main group C04B 22/00;
a mortar composition containing an hydraulic cement , an organic co-binder, fillers and active ingredients , such as surfactants and anti-foam agents, is classified in main group C04B 28/00.
Any ingredient of compositions of mortars, concrete or artificial stone, classified in groups C04B 26/00 to C04B 32/00 in accordance with the previous special rules, and which itself is determined to be novel and non-obvious, must also be classified in groups C04B 7/00 to C04B 24/00 respecting these previous rules.
This can be the case when, e.g.:
the actual invention relates to one of the ingredients of the mixture;
a special organic co-binder is used in combination with an hydraulic cement (C04B 24/24).
Any ingredient of compositions of mortars, concrete or artificial stone, which is not identified by the classification in groups C04B 26/00 to C04B 32/00 in accordance with the previous rules, and which is considered to represent information of particular interest for search, may also be classified respecting these previous notes. This can for example be the case when, it is considered of interest to enable searching of compositions using a combination of classification symbols. Such non-obligatory classification should be given as "additional information". For example:
the problem-solution aspect of the invention relates to one of the ingredients in particular, such as the corrosion problem of glass fibres in a concrete matrix (additional classification in C04B 14/42);
well defined Portland cement mortar mixture containing clay as an essential or characterising filler (additional classification in C04B 14/10);
unusual ingredients used.
Artificial stone compositions containing fibres but no binders, and voids which may occur between the intertwined fibres, are not considered porous in the sense of main group C04B 38/00. In the same way, such compositions, where binder is only present on the mutual contact points of the intertwined fibres, are not considered as compositions covered by main groups C04B 26/00 to C04B 28/00.
Use of indexing codes:
when classifying in main groups C04B 22/00 or C04B 24/00, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of group C04B 103/00 relating to the function or property of the active ingredients ;
when classifying in main groups C04B 26/00 to C04B 32/00, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of group C04B 111/00 relating to the function, property or use of the mortars, concrete or artificial stone.
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Active ingredients | Ingredients having an effect on the mortar-, concrete- or artificial stone composition during processing or on the characteristics of the final product, e.g. as set accelerator, as dispersant or as gas generating agent. Other examples are processing aids or property improvers, e.g. grinding aids, used after the cement burning process or in the absence of such a burning process. |
Cement | The binder proper, i.e. excluding any additional ingredient or additive added to the finished binder as such, with the exception of mixtures of binders. |
Cement composition | In patent literature this term might be used in the sense of " cement " as well as in the sense of a "mortar-, concrete- or artificial stone composition". For classification and search, the term must be interpreted using the Glossary as guidance. |
Clinker | The unground sintered product leaving the cement kiln. In patent literature this term might be used literally, i.e. to indicate the unground sintered product leaving the cement kiln, or it might be used to indicate the ground cement without any additive, i.e. not interground with additives such as gypsum. |
Ceramics | Inorganic, non metallic products obtained by a process involving a shaping step and a sintering or comparable heat treatment step, with the exclusion of cements , cermets and glasses, glazes, vitreous enamels and devitrified glass ceramics . |
Fillers | Inactive ingredients, include pigments, aggregates and fibrous reinforcing materials. |
Fine ceramics | Ceramics having a polycrystalline fine-grained microstructure, e.g. of dimensions below 100 micrometer. |
Hydraulic binder | For the purpose of classification and search in this subclass, the terms " cement " and " hydraulic binder " are considered to be equivalent, even if in literature, an hydraulic binder might be defined as a mixture of cement and one or more inorganic additives. |
Mortar- , concrete- and artificial stone compositions | They are considered as a single group of materials, are mixtures of one or more binders with fillers or other ingredients. In the context of such compositions, the terms " cement " and "binder" are considered equivalent. |
Resin mortar or resin concrete | Mortar or concrete containing resin as a binder instead of cement , i.e. excluding any inorganic binder and containing a considerable amount of inorganic filler compared with the amount of the organic binder. |
Refractories | Ceramics or mortars withstanding high temperatures of at least about 1500 degrees C. For classification and search in this subclass no substantial distinction is made between the terms " refractories " and " ceramics ". |
Porous materials | Materials which are deliberately made porous, e.g. by adding gas-forming, foaming, burnable or lightweight additives to the composition they are made of. |