Geopolymer Low-Carbon Construction Patent Landscape 2026
The geopolymer low-carbon construction patent field is in a growth stage, with a 69% increase in filings over the recent multi-year window and China as the dominant filing jurisdiction. Activity is moderately concentrated among a mix of oilfield-services multinationals and academic institutions, with Schlumberger entities and United States Gypsum Co holding the largest positions.
Schlumberger entities and US Gypsum lead a fragmented but growing field
United States Gypsum Co at 72 and Synthos SA at 60. The top five filers account for 22% of the combined total of the hundred largest filers, indicating moderate concentration rather than outright dominance by any single player.
A clear tier gap separates the top five commercial filers from the next cohort, which includes multiple Chinese universities and Halliburton. The presence of several academic institutions—Catholic University of America, Wuhan University of Technology, Southeast University—signals that foundational R&D remains distributed and that no single commercial entity has locked up the core chemistry.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schlumberger Technology BV | 81 | |
| 2 | United States Gypsum Co | 72 | |
| 3 | Synthos SA | 60 | |
| 4 | Entech Corp | 59 | |
| 5 | Catholic University of America | 57 | |
| 6 | Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA | 44 | |
| 7 | Wuhan University of Technology | 31 | |
| 8 | Schlumberger Tech Corp | 31 | |
| 9 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | 30 | |
| 10 | Southeast University | 30 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sika Technology AG | 27 | |
| 12 | Guangdong University of Technology | 27 | |
| 13 | Schlumberger Canada Ltd | 26 | |
| 14 | Heungkuk Industrial Co Ltd | 25 | |
| 15 | Zhengzhou University | 24 | |
| 16 | CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY GMBH | 24 | |
| 17 | Synthos Dwory 7 Sp. z o.o. Spolka Jawna | 22 | |
| 18 | Shenzhen University | 21 | |
| 19 | Hebei University of Technology | 20 | |
| 20 | COUNCIL OF SCI & IND RES | 20 |
The leaders’ positions imply that oilfield-services companies have pursued geopolymer binders primarily for wellbore cementing, while construction-materials specialists such as. United States Gypsum Co and Sika Technology AG are targeting conventional building applications. This divergence in end-use creates room for new entrants focusing on structural or precast construction applications.
The most recent 18–24 months are under-represented due to standard patent publication lag; apparent softness in 2024–2026 data should not be read as a slowdown. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filing volume is expanding and cement chemistry dominates the technology mix
Annual filing trends reveal a field in sustained growth from 2017 to the most recent complete years, while the technology composition shows heavy concentration in ceramics and cement chemistry alongside a long tail of adjacent classes.
Annual filing trend
Filings climbed from 149 in 2017 to a recorded high of 366 in 2025, with consistent year-on-year expansion interrupted only by modest plateaus in 2018 and 2020. The 2025 and especially 2026 figures are materially under-counted due to publication lag and should be treated as floors, not ceilings.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
The C04B class (ceramics, cement and refractories) is overwhelmingly dominant, reflecting the core binder and matrix chemistry of geopolymers. Secondary classes—C09K (materials for miscellaneous applications), B28B (shaping clay and cement products), and E21B (earth and rock drilling)—are significantly smaller, pointing to both oilfield and shaping/manufacturing activity as distinct sub-themes. Emerging branches such as B33Y (additive manufacturing) and B09B (solid waste disposal) are present at low but meaningful levels.
↗ 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.
Method for geopolymer concrete
A geopolymer concrete prepared by predicting a mechanical property of a geopolymer concrete formed with each of a plurality of fly ash materials, selecting as a source material for the geopolymer concrete one of the fly ash materials that yields a predicted value of the mechanical property that is equal to or greater than a target value for the mechanical… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | High-strength geopolymer composite cellular concrete | 183 |
| 2 | Geopolymer composition and application in oilfield… | 150 |
| 3 | Geopolymer composite for ultra high performance co… | 122 |
| 4 | Geopolymers and methods for their production | 107 |
| 5 | Dimensionally stable geopolymer compositions and m… | 89 |
| 6 | Tailored geopolymer composite binders for cement a… | 87 |
| 7 | Geopolymer composition and application for carbon … | 78 |
| 8 | Cementitious materials including stainless steel s… | 73 |
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 patent structure means for R&D investment decisions
The combination of a growth-stage lifecycle, moderate top-five concentration, and a university-heavy mid-tier shapes both the competitive risk profile and the realistic entry paths for new players.
Growth stage with annual filings still expanding
The field is classified as Growth, with a 69% increase in filing volume over the recent multi-year window and annual filings continuing to rise. The peak recorded year in the evidence is 2023, and subsequent years remain under-counted due to publication lag. Entering now still offers first-mover advantages in sub-segments that have not yet been heavily claimed.
Lifecycle: GrowthModerate concentration with a fragmented mid-tier
The top five filers hold 22% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total—high enough to signal established players, low enough to leave substantial room for challengers. The mid-tier is populated largely by universities and regional Chinese institutions, meaning commercially deployable IP at scale remains achievable for well-resourced entrants. The tier gap between rank 5 and rank 6 is meaningful but not prohibitive.
Top-5 share: 22%Schlumberger internal co-filing dominates collaboration data
The most active co-filing pairs are all Schlumberger group entities: Schlumberger Technology LLC co-files with Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA (44 joint families), Schlumberger Canada Ltd (21), Schlumberger Tech Corp (18), PRAD Research & Development Ltd (8), and Schlumberger Holdings Ltd (8). This pattern reflects coordinated multi-entity prosecution within one corporate family rather than external partnerships. Cross-industry or university–industry co-filing partnerships are not prominently evidenced in the top collaboration pairs.
Intra-group co-filingChina leads filings; India and the US are strong secondary markets
China is the dominant filing jurisdiction, followed by India and the United States, with Europe (EPO) and WIPO (PCT) providing international coverage. Australia, South Korea, and Japan represent significant secondary markets. The strong India presence is notable and may reflect active domestic construction demand and research. Filing in Malaysia, New Zealand, and Israel suggests targeted protection in specific infrastructure markets.
Lead office: ChinaGo 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.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Schlumberger Technology LLC | Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA | 44 |
| Schlumberger Technology LLC | Schlumberger Canada Ltd | 21 |
| Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA | Schlumberger Canada Ltd | 21 |
| Schlumberger Technology LLC | Schlumberger Tech Corp | 18 |
| Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA | Schlumberger Tech Corp | 18 |
| Schlumberger Tech Corp | Schlumberger Canada Ltd | 18 |
| Schlumberger Technology LLC | PRAD Research & Development Ltd | 8 |
| Schlumberger Technology LLC | Schlumberger Holdings Ltd | 8 |
| Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA | PRAD Research & Development Ltd | 8 |
| Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA | Schlumberger Holdings Ltd | 8 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Schlumberger entities anchor the top rank; United States Gypsum Co leads in building materials
The leading positions split between oilfield-services companies applying geopolymers to well cementing and construction-materials specialists targeting conventional building applications, creating two largely non-overlapping competitive sub-arenas.
Schlumberger Technology BV
Schlumberger Technology BV leads with 81 patent families, concentrated in C04B 28 (geopolymer binder chemistry) and C09K 8 (oilfield fluids and materials). The entity entered the recent filing window as a new entrant in the momentum data, indicating that its large portfolio has been accumulated primarily in the recent period rather than over a long prior baseline. Its sister entities—Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA (44 families), Schlumberger Tech Corp (31 families), and Schlumberger Canada Ltd (26 families)—collectively amplify the group’s position, with heavy E21B 33 (wellbore completion) emphasis confirming an oilfield-cementing strategic focus.
families: 81United States Gypsum Co
United States Gypsum Co holds 72 patent families, focused entirely within C04B subclasses covering cement, binder, and refractory compositions, with no oilfield overlay. Its technology emphasis on C04B 12 and C04B 111 points to supplementary cementitious materials and performance-specification claims typical of building-products R&D. Momentum data for this entity is not captured in the applicant-momentum evidence provided, so its recent trajectory relative to prior periods is evidence pending.
families: 72| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Schlumberger Technology LLC | 46 | ▲ new entrant |
| Synthos SA | 6 | ▲ new entrant |
| Entech Corp | 2 | ▼ -85% |
| Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA | 29 | ▲ new entrant |
| Construction Research & Technology GmbH | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
| Wuhan University of Technology | 16 | ▲ new entrant |
| Schlumberger Tech Corp | 18 | ▲ new entrant |
| Southeast University | 17 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served adjacent branches worth monitoring
Several IPC branches sit at the margins of the dominant C04B core with low filing counts relative to their technical relevance, representing areas where the geopolymer value proposition has not yet been extensively claimed.
E01C · Roads and pavements
With 74 patent records against a corpus dominated by thousands in C04B, roads and pavements is a sparsely claimed branch despite geopolymer concrete’s well-documented durability and lower-carbon credentials for infrastructure applications. Entry paths are realistic for construction materials companies already active in C04B: incremental claims covering mix design optimised for pavement performance, freeze-thaw resistance, and field-application logistics could establish a defensible position. The low count suggests that most pavement-focused geopolymer work remains in academic literature rather than granted IP.
Search this in Eureka →B33Y · Additive manufacturing (3D printing)
Additive manufacturing for geopolymer construction appears in only 39 patent records, making it one of the sparsest branches with a plausible near-term commercial path. Three-dimensional printing of geopolymer elements would directly address both carbon reduction and construction-waste goals, and the convergence with digital fabrication trends gives this branch outsized strategic value relative to its current filing density. Engineers with expertise in rheology modification and set-time control—already core competencies in the C04B space—have a credible technical entry point.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ by technology route
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | C04B 28 · Ceramics, cement & refractories | C04B 18 · Ceramics, cement & refractories | C04B 111 · Ceramics, cement & refractories | C04B 12 · Ceramics, cement & refractories | C04B 7 · Ceramics, cement & refractories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Gypsum Co | Strong · 69 | Absent | Moderate · 34 | Strong · 40 | Moderate · 14 |
| Entech Corp | Strong · 53 | Strong · 43 | Moderate · 16 | Absent | Moderate · 15 |
| Schlumberger Technology LLC | Strong · 81 | Absent | Moderate · 30 | Emerging · 12 | Absent |
| Catholic University of America | Strong · 47 | Strong · 48 | Absent | Emerging · 9 | Absent |
| Synthos SA | Strong · 67 | Absent | Moderate · 22 | Absent | Absent |
| Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA | Strong · 44 | Absent | Moderate · 16 | Absent | Absent |
| Southeast University | Strong · 30 | Absent | Moderate · 11 | Moderate · 8 | Moderate · 11 |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 2,185 patent families globally. China is the leading filing jurisdiction, followed by India and the United States.
Schlumberger Technology BV leads with 81 patent families, followed by United States Gypsum Co (72), Synthos SA (60), Entech Corp (59), and Catholic University of America (57). Multiple Chinese universities—including Wuhan University of Technology and Southeast University—appear in the top 20.
The field is in a Growth stage. Filing volume increased 69% over the recent multi-year window. Annual filings rose from 149 in 2017 to a recorded high of 366 in 2025, though the most recent 18–24 months are under-counted due to publication lag.
C04B (ceramics, cement and refractories) is overwhelmingly dominant. Secondary active branches include C09K (materials for miscellaneous applications), B28B (shaping clay and cement products), E21B (earth and rock drilling), and C08J (polymer processing and solutions).
The most active co-filing pairs are all internal to the Schlumberger corporate group, with Schlumberger Technology LLC and Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA sharing 44 joint families as the top pair. External cross-industry or university–industry collaboration is not prominently represented in the top collaboration pairs.
Roads and pavements (E01C, 74 patent records) and additive manufacturing (B33Y, 39 patent records) are among the sparsest branches relative to their technical relevance. Both offer credible entry paths for players with existing expertise in geopolymer binder chemistry.
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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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