Nickel Superalloy Additive Manufacturing Patent Landscape
The nickel superalloy additive manufacturing field is in a confirmed growth stage, with annual filings rising sharply and Chinese academic institutions holding the top positions alongside European industrial incumbents. Activity is moderately concentrated: the top five filers among the hundred largest applicants account for roughly a quarter of that group’s combined output, leaving meaningful room for challengers in post-build heat treatment and turbine-specific process claims.
Central South University leads a field split between Chinese academia and Western industry
Central South University holds the top position with 24 patent families, followed by Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co KG at 14 and the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences at 13. Northwestern Polytechnical University and Safran SA round out the top five at 11 and 10 patent families respectively.
The top five filers account for 26% of the combined output of the hundred largest applicants, indicating moderate concentration with no single entity controlling the agenda. A visible tier gap separates the top three academic-and-industrial leaders from the cluster of mid-range players filing between 4 and 9 patent families.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central South University | 24 | |
| 2 | SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG | 14 | |
| 3 | Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences | 13 | |
| 4 | Northwestern Polytechnical University | 11 | |
| 5 | Safran SA | 10 | |
| 6 | Honeywell International Inc. | 9 | |
| 7 | Gaona Aero Material Co., Ltd. | 8 | |
| 8 | Aubert et Duval SA | 7 | |
| 9 | Lyten Inc. | 6 | |
| 10 | GE Infrastructure Technology LLC | 6 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | 5 | |
| 12 | Beijing Yuding Additive Manufacturing Research Institute Co., Ltd. | 5 | |
| 13 | NANJING UNIV OF SCI & TECH | 5 | |
| 14 | General Electric Technology GmbH | 4 | |
| 15 | UNIV OF SCI & TECH BEIJING | 4 | |
| 16 | Northeastern University (China) | 4 | |
| 17 | Renishaw PLC | 4 | |
| 18 | General Electric Company | 4 | |
| 19 | Hunan University | 4 | |
| 20 | AECC South Industry Co., Ltd. | 4 |
The leading positions of Chinese universities signal that foundational process and alloy composition research is being institutionalized in academia, while Western industrial players — Siemens Energy, Safran, Honeywell, and GE Infrastructure — concentrate on application-ready and turbine-specific inventions, creating a structurally bifurcated competitive landscape.
The most recent 18–24 months of filing data are subject to publication lag and will undercount actual activity; comparative readings should weight the 2021–2023 window most heavily. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filings have accelerated since 2021 and the technology mix is dominated by powder-bed and alloy-composition classes
The annual filing trend reveals a clear inflection point in 2021, while the IPC composition chart shows that three classes — powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing process, and alloy formulation — together account for the overwhelming majority of claims.
Annual filing trend
Annual filings roughly tripled from the 2017–2019 baseline of 10–17 per year to 29–33 by 2021–2023, before the recorded 2024 and 2025 figures extend that upward trajectory. The 2025 and 2026 bars are materially understated by publication lag and should not be read as a plateau or decline.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
B22F (powder metallurgy), B33Y (additive manufacturing / 3D printing), and C22C (alloys) are the three dominant IPC classes and reflect the core process-materials nexus of the field. Downstream classes such as C22F (non-ferrous metal treatment), B23K (welding and brazing), and F01D (turbines) are present but substantially smaller, pointing to relative sparsity in post-build processing and end-use turbine integration claims.
↗ 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.
Nickel-based superalloy with high volume fraction …
This application relates to a nickel-based superalloy suitable for additive manufacturing and a method for manufacturing a high-temperature member using the same. The nickel-based superalloy includes 13.7% to 14.3% by weight of Cr, 9.0% to 10.0% by weight of Co, 3.7% to 4.3% by weight of Mo, 2.6% to 3.4% by weight of Ti, 3.7% to 4.3% by weight of W, 2.6% to… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一种消除Renè104镍基高温合金激光增材制造裂纹的方法 | 89 |
| 2 | Nickel-based superalloys and additive manufacturin… | 31 |
| 3 | Method for eliminating cracks in renÉ 104 nickel-b… | 30 |
| 4 | 高球形度Inconel625合金粉末及其制备方法与应用 | 25 |
| 5 | 一种增材制造镍基高温合金及其制备方法和应用 | 23 |
| 6 | 制造钛合金与镍基高温合金功能梯度材料的制备方法 | 20 |
| 7 | 一种预防选区激光熔融镍基高温合金开裂的方法 | 19 |
| 8 | Method for processing additively manufactured nick… | 19 |
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 observations — maturity stage, concentration, collaboration patterns, and geographic spread — define the risk-reward calculus for a new entrant or incumbent seeking to extend its position.
Growth stage: annual filings still rising from a low base
The lifecycle evidence classifies this field as Growth, with annual filings rising and the most recent years understated by publication lag. A 79% increase in recent-window filings confirms that the field has not yet reached saturation. Entrants still have the ability to establish foundational positions, but the window is narrowing as Chinese academic output accelerates.
Growth stageModerate concentration with a clear three-player lead tier
The top five filers hold 26% of the hundred largest applicants’ combined total, a level that signals moderate but not prohibitive concentration. Below the top three there is a broad mid-tier of 15+ applicants each holding 4–9 patent families, meaning competitive pressure is distributed rather than monopolized. Differentiated process or material claims can still carve out a defensible niche.
Moderate concentrationSafran–Aubert et Duval is the dominant co-filing pair; Chinese institutions cluster internally
Safran SA and Aubert et Duval SA are the most active co-filers with 7 jointly attributed patent families, reflecting a supplier-OEM partnership on alloy qualification for aerospace. Within China, Central South University co-files with its Shenzhen Research Institute and with AECC South Industry, while the Institute of Metal Research co-files with Northwestern Polytechnical University, Hunan University, and Northeastern University. Siemens Energy and VDM Metals International share 2 joint families. Cross-border academic-industrial collaboration remains sparse.
Ecosystem collaborationChina dominates filings; the US and EPO are the primary Western venues
China is the lead office with 173 patent records, far ahead of the United States at 41 and the EPO at 20. WIPO PCT filings stand at 14, indicating that global protection strategies remain selective. India, the United Kingdom, and South Korea represent secondary venues. The geographic skew toward China reflects both the academic-filing intensity of Chinese universities and the strategic priority Chinese aerospace and energy industries place on domestic protection.
China-led geographyGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Safran SA | Aubert et Duval SA | 7 |
| Central South University | Shenzhen Research Institute of Central South University | 2 |
| Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co KG | VDM Metals International GmbH | 2 |
| Central South University | AECC South Industry Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences | Northwestern Polytechnical University | 1 |
| Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences | Hunan University | 1 |
| Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences | Northeastern University (China) | 1 |
| Northwestern Polytechnical University | Shenzhen Research Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University | 1 |
| Northwestern Polytechnical University | Hunan University | 1 |
| Safran SA | Aubert et Duval SA | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Central South University and Siemens Energy anchor opposite poles of an academic-industrial divide
The ranking separates Chinese academic institutions — which focus on powder-process and alloy-composition fundamentals — from Western industrial players whose portfolios emphasize alloy formulation and end-use additive manufacturing parameters.
Central South University
Central South University leads with 24 patent families, concentrated in powder metallurgy (B22F 10), nickel alloy composition (C22C 19), and additive manufacturing process (B33Y 10). Its momentum is classified as a new entrant on a recent-filing basis, meaning its position has been built rapidly in the current window. The university’s Shenzhen Research Institute is an active co-filer, and a joint family with AECC South Industry signals early industry linkage.
patent families: 24Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co KG
Siemens Energy ranks second with 14 patent families, with its technology emphasis spread across nickel alloy composition (C22C 19), powder metallurgy (B22F 10), and additive manufacturing materials (B33Y 70). Its recent-filing trend is classified as a new entrant, indicating accelerated filing activity in the current period. A co-filing partnership with VDM Metals International GmbH (2 joint families) suggests a materials-supply chain integration strategy aimed at turbine component qualification.
patent families: 14| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Central South University | 10 | ▲ new entrant |
| General Electric Company | 2 | ▼ -80% |
| Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences | 8 | ▲ new entrant |
| Northwestern Polytechnical University | 5 | ▲ new entrant |
| Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co KG | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
| Gaona Aero Material Co., Ltd. | 3 | ▲ new entrant |
Post-build treatment and turbine integration are under-served relative to their technical importance
Several IPC classes adjacent to the three dominant branches show low patent-record counts despite direct technical relevance to industrializing nickel superalloy additive manufacturing for aerospace and energy applications.
C22F · Post-build heat treatment of non-ferrous metals
With 61 patent records, C22F is the largest of the adjacent branches but still represents only 8% of the IPC distribution, a share disproportionately small given that residual stress relief and microstructure normalization after printing are recognized barriers to certification. The technical path is clear — linking specific AM process parameters to validated post-build thermal cycles — and an entrant with furnace-process or HIP expertise could establish a defensible position without competing directly in the crowded powder-bed process space.
Search this in Eureka →F01D · Turbines and non-positive displacement engines
Only 13 patent records fall under F01D, covering turbine blade and vane geometries produced by additive manufacturing — a commercially critical application with a thin existing patent footprint. The sparse coverage is notable given that turbine hot-section components are among the highest-value end uses for nickel superalloys. A player combining AM process knowledge with turbine aero-thermal design claims could address a gap that neither the academic-led Chinese filers nor the current industrial incumbents have densely occupied.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ by technology route across powder metallurgy, alloy design, and process control
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | C22C 19 · Alloys | B22F 10 · Powder metallurgy | B33Y 10 · Additive manufacturing (3D printing) | B33Y 70 · Additive manufacturing (3D printing) | C22C 1 · Alloys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central South University | Strong · 18 | Strong · 21 | Strong · 17 | Strong · 13 | Strong · 14 |
| Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences | Strong · 13 | Strong · 11 | Strong · 8 | Strong · 8 | Moderate · 4 |
| Northwestern Polytechnical University | Strong · 7 | Strong · 9 | Strong · 9 | Strong · 7 | Moderate · 3 |
| Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co KG | Strong · 8 | Strong · 5 | Absent | Moderate · 4 | Moderate · 4 |
| Safran SA | Strong · 10 | Absent | Absent | Strong · 7 | Moderate · 3 |
| General Electric Company | Strong · 10 | Absent | Moderate · 5 | Moderate · 5 | Absent |
| Honeywell International Inc. | Strong · 9 | Absent | Moderate · 4 | Strong · 5 | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The evidence set contains 264 patent families in scope for nickel superalloy additive manufacturing, with China as the lead filing office.
Central South University leads with 24 patent families, followed by Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co KG at 14 and the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences at 13.
Yes. The lifecycle evidence classifies the field as Growth, with a 79% increase in filings over the recent window and annual filings still rising. The 2025 and 2026 recorded figures are understated by publication lag and do not represent a real slowdown.
China leads with 173 patent records, followed by the United States at 41, the EPO at 20, and WIPO PCT at 14. India and the United Kingdom are secondary venues.
The most-cited patent in the evidence set relates to a method for eliminating cracks in René 104 nickel-based superalloy laser additive manufacturing (89 citations), followed by a family on nickel-based superalloys and additive manufacturing (31 citations) and a related crack-elimination method (30 citations).
The two most prominent under-served adjacent branches relative to the dominant powder-bed and alloy-composition classes are C22F (post-build heat treatment of non-ferrous metals, 61 records) and F01D (turbines and non-positive displacement engines, 13 records). Both are technically central to industrializing AM nickel superalloys but have thin patent coverage compared to core process classes.
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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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