C
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY

Note(s) [2009.01]

  • In section C, the definitions of groups of chemical elements are as follows:
    • Alkali metals: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr
    • Alkaline earth metals: Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra
    • Lanthanides: elements with atomic numbers 57 to 71 inclusive
    • Rare earths: Sc, Y, Lanthanides
    • Actinides: elements with atomic numbers 89 to 103 inclusive
    • Refractory metals: Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W
    • Halogens: F, Cl, Br, I, At
    • Noble gases: He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn
    • Platinum group: Os, Ir, Pt, Ru, Rh, Pd
    • Noble metals: Ag, Au, Platinum group
    • Light metals: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Be, Al, Mg
    • Heavy metals: metals other than light metals
    • Iron group: Fe, Co, Ni
    • Non-metals: H, B, C, Si, N, P, O, S, Se, Te, noble gases, halogens
    • Metals: elements other than non-metals
    • Transition elements: elements with atomic numbers 21 to 30 inclusive, 39 to 48 inclusive, 57 to 80 inclusive, 89 upwards
  • Section C covers :
    • pure chemistry, which covers inorganic compounds, organic compounds, macromolecular compounds, and their methods of preparation;
    • applied chemistry, which covers compositions containing the above compounds, such as: glass, ceramics, fertilisers, plastics compositions, paints, products of the petroleum industry. It also covers certain compositions on account of their having particular properties rendering them suitable for certain purposes, as in the case of explosives, dyestuffs, adhesives, lubricants, and detergents;
    • certain marginal industries, such as the manufacture of coke and of solid or gaseous fuels, the production and refining of oils, fats and waxes, the fermentation industry (e.g., brewing and wine-making), the sugar industry;
    • certain operations or treatments, which are either purely mechanical, e.g., the mechanical treatment of leather and skins, or partly mechanical, e.g., the treatment of water or the prevention of corrosion in general;
    • metallurgy, ferrous or non-ferrous alloys.
  • In all sections of the IPC, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, the Periodic System of chemical elements referred to is the one with 18 groups as represented in the table below.
    • fig401
    • In the case of operations, treatments, products or articles having both a chemical and a non-chemical part or aspect, the general rule is that the chemical part or aspect is covered by section C.
    • In some of these cases, the chemical part or aspect brings with it a non-chemical one, even though purely mechanical, because this latter aspect either is essential to the operation or treatment or constitutes an important element thereof. It has seemed, in fact, more logical not to dissociate the different parts or aspects of a coherent whole. This is the case for applied chemistry and for the industries, operations and treatments mentioned in Notes (1)(c), (d) and (e). For example, furnaces peculiar to the manufacture of glass are covered by class C03 and not by class F27.
    • There are, however, some exceptions in which the mechanical (or non-chemical) aspect carries with it the chemical aspect, for example:
      • Certain extractive processes, in subclass A61K;
      • The chemical purification of air, in subclass A61L;
      • Chemical methods of fire-fighting, in subclass A62D;
      • Chemical processes and apparatus, in class B01;
      • Impregnation of wood, in subclass B27K;
      • Chemical methods of analysis or testing, in subclass G01N;
      • Photographic materials and processes, in class G03, and, generally, the chemical treatment of textiles and the production of cellulose or paper, in section D.
    • In still other cases, the pure chemical aspect is covered by section C and the applied chemical aspect by another section, such as A, B or F, e.g., the use of a substance or composition for:
      • treatment of plants or animals, covered by subclass A01N;
      • foodstuffs, covered by class A23;
      • ammunition or explosives, covered by class F42.
    • When the chemical and mechanical aspects are so closely interlocked that a neat and simple division is not possible, or when certain mechanical processes follow as a natural or logical continuation of a chemical treatment, section C may cover, in addition to the chemical aspect, a part only of the mechanical aspect, e.g., after-treatment of artificial stone, covered by class C04. In this latter case, a note or a reference is usually given to make the position clear, even if sometimes the division is rather arbitrary.
METALLURGY
C22
METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS

Note(s) [2012.01]

  • Processes or devices specific to the transformation of iron ore or iron carbonyl into iron, either solid or molten, are classified in subclass  C21B.
  • Processes or devices specific to:
    • processing of pig-iron or cast iron;
    • manufacture of wrought-iron, wrought-steel or carbon steel;
    • treatment in molten state of ferrous alloys;

    are classified in subclass C21C.

  • The following processes or devices are classified in subclass   C21D:
    • processes specific to heat treatment of ferrous alloys or steels;
    • devices for heat treatment of metals or alloys.
C22C
ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F)

Note(s) [4]

  • In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meanings indicated:
    • "alloys" includes also:
      • metallic composite materials containing a substantial proportion of fibres or other somewhat larger particles;
      • ceramic compositions containing free metal bonded to carbides, diamond, oxides, borides, nitrides or silicides, e.g. cermets, or other metal compounds, e.g. oxynitrides or sulfides, other than as macroscopic reinforcing agents.
    • "based on" requires at least 50% by weight of the specified constituent or of the specified group of constituents.
Subclass index
NON-FERROUS ALLOYS
Manufacture 1/00, 3/00
Based on or containing particular metals 5/00-32/00
FERROUS ALLOYS
Manufacture 33/00
Master alloys 35/00
Cast-iron alloys 37/00
Iron alloys 38/00
RADIOACTIVE ALLOYS 43/00
AMORPHOUS ALLOYS 45/00
ALLOYS CONTAINING FIBRES OR FILAMENTS 47/00, 49/00
Non-ferrous alloys, i.e. alloys based essentially on metals other than iron [5]

Note(s) [2009.01]

C22C 1/00
Making non-ferrous alloys (by electrothermic methods C22B 4/00; by electrolysis C25C) [2006.01]
C22C 1/02
by melting [2006.01]
C22C 1/03
C22C 1/04
by powder metallurgy (C22C 1/08 takes precedence) [2006.01]
C22C 1/05
Mixtures of metal powder with non-metallic powder (C22C 1/08 takes precedence) [2006.01]
C22C 1/06
with the use of special agents for refining or deoxidising [2006.01]
C22C 1/08
Alloys with open or closed pores [2006.01]
C22C 1/10
Alloys containing non-metals (C22C 1/08 takes precedence) [2006.01]
C22C 3/00
Removing material from non-ferrous alloys to produce alloys of different constitution [2006.01]
C22C 5/00
Alloys based on noble metals [2006.01]
C22C 5/02
Alloys based on gold [2006.01]
C22C 5/04
Alloys based on a platinum group metal [2006.01]
C22C 5/06
Alloys based on silver [2006.01]
C22C 5/08
with copper as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 5/10
with cadmium as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 7/00
Alloys based on mercury [2006.01]
C22C 9/00
Alloys based on copper [2006.01]
C22C 9/01
with aluminium as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 9/02
with tin as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 9/04
with zinc as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 9/05
with manganese as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 9/06
with nickel or cobalt as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 9/08
with lead as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 9/10
with silicon as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 11/00
Alloys based on lead [2006.01]
C22C 11/02
with an alkali or an alkaline earth metal as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 11/04
with copper as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 11/06
with tin as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 11/08
with antimony or bismuth as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 11/10
with tin [2006.01]
C22C 12/00
Alloys based on antimony or bismuth [2006.01]
C22C 13/00
Alloys based on tin [2006.01]
C22C 13/02
with antimony or bismuth as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 14/00
Alloys based on titanium [2006.01]
C22C 16/00
Alloys based on zirconium [2006.01]
C22C 18/00
Alloys based on zinc [2006.01]
C22C 18/02
with copper as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 18/04
with aluminium as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 19/00
Alloys based on nickel or cobalt [2006.01]
C22C 19/03
based on nickel [2006.01]
C22C 19/05
with chromium [2006.01]
C22C 19/07
based on cobalt [2006.01]
C22C 20/00
Alloys based on cadmium [2006.01]
C22C 21/00
Alloys based on aluminium [2006.01]
C22C 21/02
with silicon as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 21/04
Modified aluminium-silicon alloys [2006.01]
C22C 21/06
with magnesium as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 21/08
with silicon [2006.01]
C22C 21/10
with zinc as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 21/12
with copper as the next major constituent [2006.01]

Note(s) [4]

  • In groups C22C 21/14-C22C 21/18, the last place priority rule is applied, i.e. at each hierarchical level, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, an alloy is classified in the last appropriate place.
C22C 21/14
with silicon [2006.01]
C22C 21/16
with magnesium [2006.01]
C22C 21/18
with zinc [2006.01]
C22C 22/00
Alloys based on manganese [2006.01]
C22C 23/00
Alloys based on magnesium [2006.01]
C22C 23/02
with aluminium as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 23/04
with zinc or cadmium as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 23/06
with a rare earth metal as the next major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 24/00
Alloys based on an alkali or an alkaline earth metal [2006.01]
C22C 25/00
Alloys based on beryllium [2006.01]
C22C 26/00
Alloys containing diamond [2006.01]
C22C 27/00
Alloys based on rhenium or a refractory metal not mentioned in groups C22C 14/00 or C22C 16/00 [2006.01]
C22C 27/02
Alloys based on vanadium, niobium or tantalum [2006.01]
C22C 27/04
Alloys based on tungsten or molybdenum [2006.01]
C22C 27/06
Alloys based on chromium [2006.01]
C22C 28/00
Alloys based on a metal not provided for in groups C22C 5/00-C22C 27/00 [2006.01]
C22C 29/00
Alloys based on carbides, oxides, borides, nitrides or silicides, e.g. cermets, or other metal compounds, e. g. oxynitrides, sulfides [2006.01]
C22C 29/02
based on carbides or carbonitrides [2006.01]
C22C 29/04
based on carbonitrides [2006.01]
C22C 29/06
based on carbides, but not containing other metal compounds [2006.01]
C22C 29/08
based on tungsten carbide [2006.01]
C22C 29/10
based on titanium carbide [2006.01]
C22C 29/12
based on oxides [2006.01]
C22C 29/14
based on borides [2006.01]
C22C 29/16
based on nitrides [2006.01]
C22C 29/18
based on silicides [2006.01]
C22C 30/00
Alloys containing less than 50% by weight of each constituent [2006.01]

Note(s) [4]

  • In groups C22C 30/02-C22C 30/06, the last place priority rule is applied, i.e. at each hierarchical level, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, an alloy is classified in the last appropriate place.
C22C 30/02
containing copper [2006.01]
C22C 30/04
containing tin or lead [2006.01]
C22C 30/06
containing zinc [2006.01]
C22C 32/00
Non-ferrous alloys containing at least 5% by weight but less than 50% by weight of oxides, carbides, borides, nitrides, silicides or other metal compounds, e.g. oxynitrides, sulfides, whether added as such or formed in situ [2006.01]
Ferrous alloys, i.e. alloys based on iron [5]
C22C 33/00
Making ferrous alloys (heat treatment thereof C21D 5/00, C21D 6/00) [2006.01]
C22C 33/02
by powder metallurgy [2006.01]
C22C 33/04
by melting [2006.01]
C22C 33/06
C22C 33/08
Making cast-iron alloys [2006.01]
C22C 33/10
including procedures for adding magnesium [2006.01]
C22C 33/12
by fluidised injection [2006.01]
C22C 35/00
Master alloys for iron or steel [2006.01]

Note(s) [2]

  • In groups C22C 37/00 and C22C 38/00, the last place priority rule is applied, i.e. at each hierarchical level, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, an alloy is classified in the last appropriate place that provides for one of the alloying components.
C22C 37/00
Cast-iron alloys [2006.01]
C22C 37/04
containing spheroidal graphite [2006.01]
C22C 37/06
containing chromium [2006.01]
C22C 37/08
with nickel [2006.01]
C22C 37/10
containing aluminium or silicon [2006.01]
C22C 38/00
Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys (cast-iron alloys C22C 37/00) [2006.01]
C22C 38/02
containing silicon [2006.01]
C22C 38/04
containing manganese [2006.01]
C22C 38/06
containing aluminium [2006.01]
C22C 38/08
containing nickel [2006.01]
C22C 38/10
containing cobalt [2006.01]
C22C 38/12
containing tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, vanadium or niobium [2006.01]
C22C 38/14
containing titanium or zirconium [2006.01]
C22C 38/16
containing copper [2006.01]
C22C 38/18
containing chromium [2006.01]
C22C 38/20
with copper [2006.01]
C22C 38/22
with molybdenum or tungsten [2006.01]
C22C 38/24
with vanadium [2006.01]
C22C 38/26
with niobium or tantalum [2006.01]
C22C 38/28
with titanium or zirconium [2006.01]
C22C 38/30
with cobalt [2006.01]
C22C 38/32
with boron [2006.01]
C22C 38/34
with more than 1.5% by weight of silicon [2006.01]
C22C 38/36
with more than 1.7% by weight of carbon [2006.01]
C22C 38/38
with more than 1.5% by weight of manganese [2006.01]
C22C 38/40
with nickel [2006.01]
C22C 38/42
with copper [2006.01]
C22C 38/44
with molybdenum or tungsten [2006.01]
C22C 38/46
with vanadium [2006.01]
C22C 38/48
with niobium or tantalum [2006.01]
C22C 38/50
with titanium or zirconium [2006.01]
C22C 38/52
with cobalt [2006.01]
C22C 38/54
with boron [2006.01]
C22C 38/56
with more than 1.7% by weight of carbon [2006.01]
C22C 38/58
with more than 1.5% by weight of manganese [2006.01]
C22C 38/60
containing lead, selenium, tellurium or antimony, or more than 0.04% by weight of sulfur [2006.01]
C22C 43/00
Alloys containing radioactive materials [2006.01]
C22C 45/00
Amorphous alloys [2006.01]
C22C 45/02
with iron as the major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 45/04
with nickel or cobalt as the major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 45/06
with beryllium as the major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 45/08
with aluminium as the major constituent [2006.01]
C22C 45/10
with molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, titanium, or zirconium as the major constituent [2006.01]
Alloys containing fibres or filaments [7]

Note(s) [7]

C22C 47/00
Making alloys containing metallic or non-metallic fibres or filaments [2006.01]
C22C 47/02
Pretreatment of the fibres or filaments [2006.01]
C22C 47/04
by coating, e.g. with a protective or activated covering [2006.01]
C22C 47/06
by forming the fibres or filaments into a preformed structure, e.g. using a temporary binder to form a mat-like element [2006.01]
C22C 47/08
by contacting the fibres or filaments with molten metal, e.g. by infiltrating the fibres or filaments placed in a mould [2006.01]
C22C 47/10
Infiltration in the presence of a reactive atmosphere; Reactive infiltration [2006.01]
C22C 47/12
Infiltration or casting under mechanical pressure [2006.01]
C22C 47/14
by powder metallurgy, i.e. by processing mixtures of metal powder and fibres or filaments [2006.01]
C22C 47/16
by thermal spraying of the metal, e.g. plasma spraying [2006.01]
C22C 47/18
using a preformed structure of fibres or filaments [2006.01]
C22C 47/20
by subjecting to pressure and heat an assembly comprising at least one metal layer or sheet and one layer of fibres or filaments [2006.01]
C22C 49/00
Alloys containing metallic or non-metallic fibres or filaments [2006.01]
C22C 49/02
characterised by the matrix material [2006.01]
C22C 49/04
Light metals [2006.01]
C22C 49/06
Aluminium [2006.01]
C22C 49/08
Iron group metals [2006.01]
C22C 49/10
Refractory metals [2006.01]
C22C 49/11
Titanium [2006.01]
C22C 49/12
Intermetallic matrix material [2006.01]
C22C 49/14
characterised by the fibres or filaments [2006.01]
Indexing scheme associated with groups C22C 47/00 and C22C 49/00, relating to the nature of the fibrous materials contained in metal-fibrous composites. [7]
C22C 101/00
Non-metallic fibres or filaments [2006.01]
C22C 101/02
based on oxides, e.g. oxide ceramic fibres [2006.01]
C22C 101/04
Aluminium oxide [2006.01]
C22C 101/06
Mixed oxides, e.g. aluminium silicate or glass [2006.01]
C22C 101/08
based on non-oxides, e.g. non-oxide ceramic fibres [2006.01]
C22C 101/10
Carbon [2006.01]
C22C 101/12
Carbides [2006.01]
C22C 101/14
Silicon carbide [2006.01]
C22C 101/16
Nitrides [2006.01]
C22C 101/18
Silicon nitride [2006.01]
C22C 101/20
Boron [2006.01]
C22C 101/22
Borides [2006.01]
C22C 111/00
Metallic fibres or filaments [2006.01]
C22C 111/02
Refractory metal fibres or filaments, e.g. tungsten fibres [2006.01]
C22C 121/00
Pretreated fibres or filaments [2006.01]
C22C 121/02
Coated fibres or filaments, e.g. ceramic fibres with protective coatings [2006.01]