Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Curing Process Patent Landscape
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Curing Process Patent Landscape in 2026
This is a small, highly concentrated field — 10 patent families spread across six applicants, with the University of Tennessee Research Foundation holding the lead position. The field is in a Growth stage on a multi-year basis, though annual volume has eased from its 2018 peak and U.S. institutions dominate both filing activity and jurisdictional coverage.
A tightly held niche led by academic and aerospace institutions
The Boeing Company and the U. S. government (represented by NASA) each with 2 patent families, and three additional filers holding 1 patent family each.
The top five filers account for 90% of the combined total among the hundred largest filers — an exceptionally high concentration for a field of this size, indicating that a small cluster of academic, government, and aerospace players currently defines the competitive frontier.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Tennessee Research Foundation | 3 | |
| 2 | The Boeing Company | 2 | |
| 3 | United States Government as Represented by the Administrator of NASA | 2 | |
| 4 | Korea Institute of Industrial Technology | 1 | |
| 5 | Yantai Meifeng Machinery Group Co., Ltd. | 1 | |
| 6 | Wuhan Gaotan Technology Co., Ltd. | 1 |
This concentration implies that new entrants face a landscape where core curing-process methods are already staked out by well-resourced institutions; however, the limited absolute volume also means that targeted, differentiated filings could meaningfully shift relative positioning.
Filings from approximately 2024 onward are likely under-counted due to standard patent publication lag and should not be interpreted as a decline in activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Multi-year growth from a small base, with shaping processes dominating the technology mix
Annual filing volume and IPC class distribution together reveal both the pace of activity and the technical priorities of the field’s participants.
Annual filing trend
Filing volume peaked in 2018 at 3 patent families, dipped to zero in 2020–2021, and recovered to 3 in 2022 before tapering off again in visible data. The three-year recent window sits 200% above the prior three-year window, confirming multi-year growth from a small base; years 2024 and beyond are understated by publication lag and should not be read as terminal decline.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
B29C (Shaping of plastics) accounts for all 10 patent records and is the dominant branch by a wide margin. C08J (Polymer processing and solutions) appears in 4 records and B29K (Plastics moulding materials, index) in 3, indicating that process chemistry and material specification are secondary but consistent themes. Notably, B64D (Aircraft equipment), H01L (Semiconductor devices), and H10N (Other electric solid-state devices) each appear in 2 records — reflecting Boeing’s and NASA’s application-specific coverage in aerospace and electromechanical contexts.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Automated wave guide system for in-process monitor…
A method of monitoring a curing process for fiber reinforced composite materials that includes positioning an actuator on uncured composite material at a first location. At least one sensor is positioned at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location. The actuator excites waves in the composite part at the first location. At least one… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automated Wave Guide System for In-Process Monitor… | 6 |
| 2 | Process to manufacture carbon fiber intermediate p… | 3 |
| 3 | Interdigitated Heating Probe | 2 |
| 4 | Method for preparing a shaped article composed of … | 1 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment decisions
Four structural signals — maturity, concentration, collaboration, and geography — shape where new entrants and incumbents can most effectively allocate effort.
Growth stage, easing from a 2018 annual peak
The field is classified as Growth: the most recent three-year filing window is 200% above the prior three-year window on a multi-year basis. However, annual volume has eased from its 2018 peak. New entrants such as the University of Tennessee Research Foundation and Wuhan Gaotan Technology have recently entered, signaling that the technical agenda is still being written but that foundational shaping-process claims are already held.
Growth stageTop-heavy field with a tight academic-government-aerospace cluster
The top five filers hold 90% of the combined total among the hundred largest filers, and the absolute corpus stands at just 10 patent families. This extreme concentration means the competitive map can shift materially with even a handful of new filings. A challenger with differentiated curing chemistry or process-monitoring IP could rapidly gain relative standing.
High concentrationNo co-applicant activity detected in current evidence
The collaboration data contains no recorded co-filing relationships within this corpus. Each applicant appears to be pursuing independent IP strategies. This absence may reflect the early-stage, exploratory nature of the field or the proprietary sensitivity of process know-how in aerospace and defense contexts. Evidence pending on any informal or cross-licensing arrangements.
Evidence pendingU.S.-centric filings with limited international coverage
The United States leads with 6 patent records, followed by China with 2, South Korea with 1, and WIPO (PCT) with 1. The limited PCT and non-U.S. coverage suggests that most applicants are not yet pursuing broad international protection, leaving significant jurisdictional white space in Europe, Japan, and other key manufacturing markets for CFRP components.
U.S. dominantGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
University of Tennessee Research Foundation leads; Boeing anchors the aerospace axis
Two players define the current frontier: an academic institution focused on core shaping and polymer-processing methods, and an aerospace OEM whose coverage extends into aircraft-specific applications and electric heating.
University of Tennessee Research Foundation
Holds 3 patent families, the largest share among all filers. Technology emphasis spans B29C 35 (curing/forming), B29C 70 (fibre-reinforced plastics shaping), and C08J 5 (polymer composite processing) — covering both the process and the material chemistry interface. Momentum is flagged as a new entrant in the recent filing window, indicating that this position has been built recently rather than accumulated over a long history.
families: 3The Boeing Company
Holds 2 patent families with a distinctly application-oriented profile: B29C 35, B64D 45 (aircraft equipment), and H05B 1 (electric heating circuits). This combination suggests Boeing’s curing-process IP is tied directly to in-service aerospace components and in-situ or resistive-heating cure methods, differentiating it from the more process-generic coverage of the academic leader. No momentum trend data is available in evidence for Boeing beyond its current 2-family position.
families: 2| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee Research Foundation | 2 | ▲ new entrant |
| Wuhan Gaotan Technology Co., Ltd. | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches at the intersection of CFRP curing and aerospace, semiconductor, and additive manufacturing
Several IPC branches appear in the corpus at low counts relative to the dominant B29C class, indicating sparse but technically adjacent coverage. These are observations of relative sparsity; only those with plausible technical value and a realistic entry path are characterized as potential opportunities.
B64D · Aircraft Equipment — in-situ and on-aircraft curing
Only 2 patent records cover B64D (Aircraft equipment) in this corpus, both attributable to Boeing’s filings linking curing process to aircraft structural components. Given the aerospace industry’s demand for out-of-autoclave and field-repair curing methods, this branch is sparse relative to its commercial relevance. Entrants with heating-element or cure-monitoring technology tailored to airframe maintenance contexts could find limited prior art here. Entry path: process patents combining B29C curing steps with B64D structural qualification requirements.
Search this in Eureka →B33Y · Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) — CFRP curing in printed composites
B33Y (Additive manufacturing / 3D printing) appears in only 1 patent record, making it the sparsest branch in the corpus. As continuous-fibre 3D printing of CFRP structures grows, cure process optimization for printed laminates represents a technically distinct problem from traditional layup curing. The low prior-art density suggests limited incumbency, and the intersection with B29C 64 (noted in Wuhan Gaotan Technology’s profile) hints at early-stage activity. Entry path: process claims addressing cure cycle control for additively manufactured CFRP parts, potentially combining B33Y and C08J subclasses.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ by technology route across IPC subclasses
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | B29C 35 · Shaping of plastics | B29C 70 · Shaping of plastics | C08J 5 · Polymer processing & solutions | B29K 105 · Plastics moulding materials (index) | B29B 15 · Plastics preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee Research Foundation | Strong · 3 | Strong · 3 | Strong · 3 | Absent | Strong · 2 |
| Yantai Meifeng Machinery Group Co., Ltd. | Strong · 1 | Absent | Strong · 1 | Strong · 1 | Absent |
| NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) | Moderate · 1 | Strong · 2 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Korea Institute of Industrial Technology | Strong · 1 | Strong · 1 | Absent | Strong · 1 | Absent |
| The Boeing Company | Strong · 2 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Wuhan Gaotan Technology Co., Ltd. | Strong · 1 | Absent | Absent | Strong · 1 | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The evidence identifies 10 patent families in scope for the carbon fiber reinforced polymer curing process topic, held across six distinct applicants globally.
The University of Tennessee Research Foundation leads with 3 patent families, followed by The Boeing Company and the U.S. government (NASA) each with 2 patent families.
The United States is the dominant jurisdiction with 6 patent records, followed by China with 2, South Korea with 1, and WIPO (PCT) with 1. European and Japanese filings are not represented in the current evidence.
The field is classified as Growth: the most recent three-year filing window is 200% above the prior three-year window. Annual volume peaked in 2018 and has eased since, and recent years are further understated by publication lag.
B29C (Shaping of plastics) covers all 10 patent records and is the dominant class. C08J (Polymer processing and solutions) appears in 4 records and B29K (Plastics moulding materials, index) in 3, with aerospace, semiconductor, and additive manufacturing branches present at lower counts.
No co-applicant or co-filing relationships are recorded in the current evidence. Each of the six identified applicants appears to be pursuing an independent IP strategy in this field.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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