C23C - Definition

Definition statement

This subclass covers:

In this subclass, an operation is considered as pretreatment or after-treatment when it is specially adapted for, but quite distinct from, the coating process concerned and constitutes an independent operation. If an operation results in the formation of a permanent sub-layer or upper layer, it is considered as pre-treatment or after-treatment only if it has a direct impact on the layer above or below respectively.

This subclass covers:

Hot-dipping or immersion processes and apparatus for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape.

Coating by spraying, casting, by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation and the different aspects of chemical coating which includes

Chemical coating by decomposition of either gaseous compounds, liquid or solid compounds, solutions or suspensions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating.

Coating starting from inorganic powder.

Coating with metallic material characterized only by the composition of the metallic material.

Chemical surface treatment of metallic materials, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating.

All coatings referred to in this subclass are either “for metallic materials” or “by metallic material,” with the exception of PVD (by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation), and CVD (an aspect included in “the different aspects of chemical coating").

Solid state diffusion into metallic material surfaces.

Relationship between large subject matter areas

Applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general is classified in B05D and applying liquids or other fluent materials to particular metal surfaces is classified in B05D 7/14; while C23C includes the coating of metallic material and coating material with metallic material.

Making metal-coated products by extrusion is classified in B21C 23/22 while C23C includes surface treatment of metallic material by diffusion into the surface.

Covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D 39/00, B23K .

References relevant to classification in this subclass

This subclass does not cover:

Making metal-coated products by extrusion	B21C 23/22
Covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles	B21D 39/00, B23K
Metallizing of glass	C03C
Metallizing mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone	C04B 41/00
Enameling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals	C23D
Treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis	C25D
Single-crystal film growth	C30B
Metallizing textiles	D06M 11/83
Decorating textiles by locally metallizing	D06Q 1/04

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general	B05D
Applying liquids or other fluent materials to particular metal surfaces	B05D 7/14
Casting for building up linings or coverings	B22D 19/08
Casting by dipping	B22D 23/04
Working of metal by the action of a high concentration of electric current on a work piece using an electrode	B23H
Coating of shaped articles of macromolecular compounds	C08J 7/04
Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes, lacquers	C09D
Inhibiting corrosion of metallic material or incrustation in general	C23F
Processes for the electrolytic removal of materials from objects	C25F
Details of scanning-probe apparatus, in general	G01Q
Manufacture of semiconductor devices	H01L
Manufacture of printed circuits	H05K

Glossary of terms

In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

METALLIC MATERIAL

Metals; Alloys which are metallic composite materials containing a substantial proportion of fibers or other somewhat larger particles;Alloys which are ceramic compositions containing free metal used as a binder for 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.