IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012
C22C - Definition
This subclass covers:
Ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, including radioactive alloys, cermets and master alloys. This subclass also covers amorphous alloys and alloys containing fibres or filaments.
Manufacture of alloys such as by processes of removing material from alloys to produce alloys of different constitution.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
C22C provides for ferrous and non-ferrous metals or alloys having a specified physical structure, e.g. microstructure, resulting from heat treatment or physical deformation. Processes for changing the physical structure of ferrous and non-ferrous metals or alloys by heat treatment or physical deformation are provided for in C21D and C22F, respectively.
C22C also provides for processes of removing material from alloys to produce alloys of different constitution, however C21D provides for removal of material by decarburization of ferrous alloys to make malleable, and C22F provides for removal of material by decarburization of non-ferrous metals or alloys.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Powder metallurgical apparatus or processes, not specifically modified for making alloys | B22F |
Rods, electrodes, materials or media, for use in soldering, welding or cutting | B23K 35/00 |
C04B 35/74 | |
Electrolytic production or refining of metals | C25C |
Single crystals or homogeneous polycrystalline material with defined structure, e.g. directionally solidified | C30B 29/00 |
Magnets | H01F |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Flints | C06C 15/00 |
Processing of pig iron, e.g. refining, manufacture of wrought iron or steel | C21C |
Coating material with metallic material; cementation (carburizing, nitriding, etc.) processes | C23C |
Special rules of classification
In this subclass the phrase "based on" requires at least 50% by weight of the specified constituent or of the specified group of constituents.
In groups C22C 21/14-C22C 21/18 groups C22C 30/02-C22C 30/06 and groups C22C 37/00 and C22C 38/00, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, an alloy is classified in the last appropriate place.
For main groups C22C 47/00 and C22C 49/00, indexing in groups C22C 101/00-C22C 121/00 may also be useful for subject matter relating to the nature of the fibrous materials contained in metal-fibrous composites.
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Alloy | A composition of plural elements at least one of which is a free metal. Also includes material containing any combination of fibres, filaments, whiskers and particles, e.g. carbides, diamond, oxides, borides, nitrides or silicides, or other metal compounds, e.g. oxynitrides or sulfides, embedded in a metallic matrix. |
Amorphous | Possessing no regular crystalline arrangement of atoms. |
Cermet | Material containing any combination of fibres, filaments, whiskers, and particles, e.g. carbides, diamond, oxides, borides, nitrides, silicides, or other metal compounds, e.g. oxynitrides or sulfides, embedded in a metallic matrix. |
Master alloy | A mixture or alloy of elements which are to be added to a charge or molten metal in order to provide a desired composition, deoxidize the molten metal or provide a fine grain size, etc. |
Refining | Purification of metal by removal of impurities therefrom. |