Nickel Superalloy Joining & Welding Patent Landscape 2026
The nickel superalloy joining and welding field is in a confirmed growth stage, with filings up 88% over the recent window and activity concentrated among aerospace and energy OEMs alongside a rising cohort of Chinese academic filers. General Electric leads by patent records, but the top five filers account for only 27% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, indicating a fragmented competitive landscape with meaningful room for new entrants.
GE leads a fragmented, growth-stage field dominated by B23K welding IP
General Electric Co holds the top position with 29 patent records, followed by United Technologies Corp with 21 and the French aerospace research institute ONERA with 18. Harbin Institute of Technology ranks fourth with 17 patent records, marking a strong academic entrant from. China.
The top five filers collectively represent 27% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, a relatively low concentration figure that signals no single player has achieved dominant lock-in. The gap between the leader (29) and the tenth-ranked filer (7) is steep, creating a clear first tier of five players and a much broader second tier.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Electric Co | 29 | |
| 2 | United Technologies Corp | 21 | |
| 3 | OFFICE NAT DETUDES & DE RECH AEROSPATIALES | 18 | |
| 4 | Harbin Institute of Technology | 17 | |
| 5 | Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd | 14 | |
| 6 | Rolls-Royce Corp | 13 | |
| 7 | Siemens Energy Inc | 11 | |
| 8 | Babcock Hitachi KK | 10 | |
| 9 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd | 9 | |
| 10 | Nippon Steel Corporation | 7 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Toshiba Corporation | 7 | |
| 12 | SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG | 6 | |
| 13 | Hitachi Ltd | 6 | |
| 14 | PAS Technologies Inc | 6 | |
| 15 | UNIV OF SCI & TECH BEIJING | 5 | |
| 16 | EI DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO | 5 | |
| 17 | MTU Aero Engines GmbH | 5 | |
| 18 | General Motors LLC | 5 | |
| 19 | Institute for Plasma Research | 5 | |
| 20 | Siemens AG | 5 |
The leaders’ positions reflect deep OEM integration: GE, United Technologies, and Rolls-Royce are all vertically positioned in jet-engine and power-turbine supply chains where proprietary joining processes directly protect component repair and manufacturing economics. ONERA’s high rank reflects state-sponsored aerospace materials research with a strong brazing and coating overlay.
The most recent 18–24 months of filing data are under-counted due to publication lag; apparent softness in 2025–2026 figures 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.
Filings accelerating since 2021; B23K welding dominates but adjacent branches are growing
The annual filing trend and technology composition charts together show a field that is expanding in volume while remaining anchored in core welding and brazing methodology, with secondary growth in alloy chemistry and turbine-application branches.
Annual filing trend
Activity was moderate from 2017 to 2020, then accelerated sharply from 2022 onward with peaks in 2022 (28 records) and 2024 (27 records). The 2025–2026 bars understate actual activity due to publication lag and should not be interpreted as a reversal of the growth trend. The 88% recent-window growth rate confirms the field is in a genuine expansion phase.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
B23K (welding, soldering, and brazing) is the overwhelmingly dominant branch with 402 records, reflecting the applied process focus of the corpus. C22C (alloys, 88 records) and F01D (turbines, 44 records) are the next-largest branches, indicating that alloy formulation for weldability and turbine-component repair are the two most active adjacent themes. B22F (powder metallurgy, 27) and C23C (coating and surface deposition, 27) are emerging as platforms for additive and hybrid joining approaches.
↗ 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 increased oxidation r…
A nickel-based superalloy with an increased oxidation resistance, power, and welding method, is provided. As a result of the addition of hafnium, no precipitation phases occur in the nickel-based superalloy and the proportions of chromium (Cr) and aluminium (Al) lead to a slightly reduced y′-content, thus achieving good oxidation resistance and weldability. (excerpt from the patent abstract)
Open this patent in Eureka →| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welding of nickel-base superalloys having a nil-du… | 181 |
| 2 | Repaired nickel based superalloy | 158 |
| 3 | Two-way surfacing process by fusion welding | 67 |
| 4 | Method of manufacture of honeycomb noise attenuati… | 56 |
| 5 | Process for joining component workpieces made of a… | 55 |
| 6 | Nickel-based braze alloy compositions and related … | 45 |
| 7 | Composite wire for welding 9% ni steel | 41 |
| 8 | Nickel based alloy for repairing substrates | 39 |
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 IP structure means for R&D investment decisions
The combination of growth-stage dynamics, moderate concentration, active industry-academic collaboration, and. China’s dominant filing volume shapes the risk and opportunity calculus for any organization entering or expanding in this field.
Growth stage with rising annual volume
The lifecycle evidence classifies this field as Growth, with annual filings still rising and an 88% gain over the recent measurement window. The peak volume on record occurred in 2022, and subsequent years remain near that level before publication lag effects take hold. Teams entering now will face an increasingly populated prior-art landscape but can still define positions in sub-processes before the field matures.
Growth stageFragmented top tier; second tier is very broad
The top five filers hold 27% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total — low enough that no single player controls the agenda. The ranking gap from rank five to rank ten is sharp, implying that a focused filing program of even modest scale can place an organization in the first tier. Process-specific or material-specific sub-claims remain the most accessible entry vectors.
Low concentrationXi’an Thermal Power Research Institute anchors the most active co-filing network
Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd is the most active co-filer, appearing in partnerships with Huaneng (Zhejiang) Energy Development Co Ltd (4 joint records), Xi’an University of Technology (3), Huaneng Hainan Power Generation Co Ltd Dongfang Power Plant (3), and Huaneng Power International Co Ltd Dezhou Power Plant (3). Siemens AG co-files with Fraunhofer Society (2 records), bridging industrial and public-research IP. Harbin Institute of Technology has joint filings with Beijing Hangxing Machinery Manufacturing Co Ltd and AVIC Harbin Dong’an Engine Co Ltd.
Network activeChina is the primary filing jurisdiction; US and Europe remain strategically important
China leads all jurisdictions by patent records, followed by Japan and the United States. Europe via EPO and the United Kingdom are close behind, reflecting the aerospace and power-generation OEM base in those markets. PCT filings are present, indicating that some applicants are seeking broad multi-jurisdictional protection. Organizations seeking freedom-to-operate must conduct clearance across at least China, Japan, the US, and EPO simultaneously.
China-ledGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd | Huaneng (Zhejiang) Energy Development Co Ltd | 4 |
| Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd | Xi’an University of Technology | 3 |
| Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd | Huaneng Hainan Power Generation Co Ltd Dongfang Power Plant | 3 |
| Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd | Huaneng Power International Co Ltd Dezhou Power Plant | 3 |
| Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd | Inner Mongolia Mengdian Huaneng Thermal Power Co Ltd Wuhai Power Plant | 3 |
| Siemens AG | Fraunhofer Society | 2 |
| Harbin Institute of Technology | Beijing Hangxing Machinery Manufacturing Co Ltd | 1 |
| Harbin Institute of Technology | AVIC Harbin Dong’an Engine Co Ltd | 1 |
| Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd | Huaneng Power International Co Ltd | 1 |
| Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd | Harbin Welding Institute Ltd (China Academy of Machinery) | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
GE and United Technologies lead on welding process IP; ONERA and Harbin Institute of Technology define the research frontier
The top four filers split into two groups: aerospace and energy OEMs anchored in B23K process claims, and research institutions with broader alloy and coating overlays. Momentum data show a sharp rise in Chinese academic filing and a retreat by Rolls-Royce.
General Electric Co
General Electric Co holds the top position with 29 patent records, concentrated across B23K welding process (B23K 103 and B23K 31) and filler-material formulations (B23K 35). The technology emphasis reflects a strategy of protecting both the welding process and the consumable chemistry used in turbine-component repair and manufacture. Momentum data are not separately broken out for GE in the recent-vs-prior window, but the company’s sustained rank-one position across a multi-year corpus indicates a consistent, long-term filing program.
patent records: 29Harbin Institute of Technology
Harbin Institute of Technology ranks fourth with 17 patent records and is classified as a new entrant in the recent filing window, with 12 recent records — the highest recent-period count among tracked momentum filers. Its technology focus centers on brazing (B23K 1) and material formulations (B23K 103 and B23K 35), positioning it as a university filer with strong applied-process depth. This trajectory makes it the fastest-rising institutional player in the corpus and a likely collaborator target for Chinese industrial partners.
patent records: 17| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Harbin Institute of Technology | 12 | ▲ new entrant |
| Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd | 6 | ▲ new entrant |
| Rolls-Royce Corp | 2 | ▼ -82% |
| Siemens Energy Inc | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served routes in turbine repair, powder metallurgy, and surface treatment
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant B23K core show low relative share despite clear technical relevance to nickel superalloy joining; they represent observations of sparsity and, where entry paths are plausible, potential areas for differentiated IP development.
B22F · Powder metallurgy in joining workflows
B22F (powder metallurgy) accounts for 27 records at 3% share of the corpus, despite powder-based filler and additive processes being technically central to next-generation repair of nickel superalloy components. The intersection with B33Y (additive manufacturing, 11 records) is even sparser, suggesting that the convergence of powder metallurgy feedstock development with directed-energy deposition welding is an under-documented area. Organizations with capabilities in both alloy powder production and joining process control have a plausible entry path through process-specific claims combining B22F and B23K.
Search this in Eureka →C21D · Post-weld heat treatment of nickel alloys
C21D (heat treatment of metals) carries 22 records at 3% share, a relatively low count given that post-weld heat treatment is a critical quality-control step for high-gamma-prime nickel superalloys where residual stress and microstructure control directly govern component life. The sparsity suggests that integrated claims covering the weld-plus-heat-treatment sequence as a unified process are uncommon, leaving space for applicants who can document the process window linking joining parameters to subsequent thermal cycles.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ across welding process, alloy, and turbine application routes
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | B23K 35 · Welding, soldering & brazing | B23K 1 · Welding, soldering & brazing | B23K 103 · Welding, soldering & brazing | B23K 9 · Welding, soldering & brazing | C22C 19 · Alloys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Electric Co | Strong · 15 | Strong · 10 | Strong · 18 | Strong · 12 | Strong · 10 |
| United Technologies Corp | Strong · 15 | Moderate · 5 | Absent | Moderate · 6 | Moderate · 7 |
| ONERA – The French Aerospace Lab | Strong · 18 | Moderate · 7 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Harbin Institute of Technology | Absent | Strong · 13 | Strong · 9 | Absent | Absent |
| Babcock Hitachi KK | Strong · 10 | Absent | Absent | Strong · 10 | Absent |
| Rolls-Royce Corp | Moderate · 6 | Strong · 13 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd | Strong · 5 | Absent | Moderate · 3 | Strong · 7 | Strong · 4 |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 169 patent families in scope. The applicant ranking is conducted at the patent-record level, which can differ from the family count because a single family may be tracked across multiple filing offices.
General Electric Co leads with 29 patent records, followed by United Technologies Corp with 21 and ONERA (the French national aerospace research institute) with 18.
B23K (welding, soldering, and brazing) is overwhelmingly dominant with 402 records. The next-largest branches are C22C (alloys, 88 records) and F01D (turbines, 44 records).
China is the leading filing jurisdiction by patent records, followed by Japan and the United States. Europe via EPO and the United Kingdom are the next-most-active offices.
Harbin Institute of Technology and Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co Ltd are both classified as new entrants in the recent filing window, with Harbin Institute recording 12 recent patent records. Rolls-Royce Corp shows a declining trend at -82% versus its prior three-year period. Siemens Energy Inc is also classified as a new entrant in the recent window.
The most-cited work in the corpus covers welding of nickel-base superalloys with nil-ductility range challenges (181 citations), repair of nickel-based superalloys (158 citations), and two-way surfacing by fusion welding (67 citations). Nickel-based braze alloy compositions (45 citations) and composite wire for 9% Ni steel welding (41 citations) also rank among the top-cited references.
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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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