Company patents
Milliken & Company
Milliken & Company's patent strategy reveals a surprising shift away from core materials innovation, with significant declines across categories like Layered Products (Laminates, Films) (-100.0% YoY in 2026), Polymer Compositions (-66.7% YoY in 2026), and Polymer Working & Compounding (-50.0% YoY in 2026), despite these still representing substantial portions of its portfolio (17.2%, 15.9%, and 15.2% respectively). While most categories show a downward trend, an unexpected emerging focus is seen in Polymer Synthesis (Polycondensation), which experienced a 100.0% YoY growth in 2026, albeit from a smaller base, indicating a potential pivot in its R&D efforts.
Patent Trend by Technology Area
Yearly patent publications since 2023
Product themes
Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.
151 US filings (since 2023) · 11 categories · 22 themes
Polymer compositions incorporating inorganic or organic filler materials to impart specific functional properties such as thermal conductivity, flame retardancy, electrical conductivity, or enhanced mechanical strength and dimensional stability.
Development and application of textile materials with engineered properties such as waterproofing, thermal regulation, anti-cling, structural coloration, or enhanced filtration capabilities for specific performance needs.
Development and application of polymer compositions designed for reprocessability, recyclability, or incorporating sustainable additives, often featuring reversible bonds or bio-based components.
Multi-layered materials incorporating fiber layers (e.g., carbon, non-carbon, fabric, mesh) within a polymer or ceramic matrix to achieve enhanced mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, impact resistance, or tailored hardness for demanding structural applications.
Polymer compositions tailored for medical and biological applications, including implantable devices, drug delivery systems, and diagnostic tools, emphasizing properties like biocompatibility, hydrolysis resistance, optical clarity, and specific mechanical characteristics.
Polymer compositions engineered for enhanced heat resistance, thermal stability in molten states, or improved processability at high temperatures, often involving specific copolymers, blends, or stabilizing additives for applications in electronics or automotive.
Synthesis and modification of polysiloxane polymers to introduce specific functional groups or structures, enhancing properties for applications like composites, coatings, biomedical uses, or powder treatment.
Techniques for combining multiple materials or layers, often with specialized surface treatments, coatings, or assembly methods, to create functional or aesthetically enhanced plastic articles, including consumer goods and encapsulated electronics.
Novel methods and reactor designs for polymer synthesis, focusing on improving efficiency, achieving continuous production, or controlling specific polymer architectures and product morphologies like particle size or sheet formation.
Processes involving the application of heat and pressure to shape thermoplastic or elastomeric materials, often using molds or presses, to achieve specific forms or material properties.
Techniques for manufacturing thin polymer layers, sheets, or multi-layer structures, often optimized for specific properties such as flexibility, barrier function, filtration, or mechanical strength.
Specialized fluid compositions, including additives and inhibitors, used in oil and gas exploration and production for purposes like drilling, fracturing, cementing, corrosion inhibition, and formation stimulation.
Implantable devices designed to manage or redirect bodily fluids, including stents for ducts, and systems for draining or accumulating fluids within internal cavities.
Substances incorporated into polymer systems to control or enhance adhesive properties, cross-linking reactions, or processing characteristics such as mold release and flow.
Materials added to polymers to modify their thermal transfer properties, typically increasing conductivity for heat dissipation in applications like electronics or battery packs.
Methods for synthesizing polyurethanes and polyureas, including non-isocyanate routes, using various monomers, catalysts, and curing agents, often for foams, coatings, or adhesives.
Multi-layer polymer films engineered to provide superior barrier properties against gases (e.g., oxygen), moisture, or aromas, often incorporating heat-sealing or resealing mechanisms for food and product preservation.
Additives that enhance a polymer's resistance to thermal degradation, high temperatures, or ignition, including flame retardants and heat stabilizers for improved safety and durability.
Formulated liquid compositions designed for specific industrial applications, such as non-flammable cleaning, thermal management in electronics, or as low-viscosity, high-flash-point base fluids.
Development of rubber and elastomer compositions, often involving specific polymer blends, additives (e.g., process oils, reinforcing agents), and cure packages, to achieve desired mechanical properties like abrasion resistance, wet grip, shear durability, or flexibility for demanding applications.
Synthesis and formulation of epoxy resins, often derived from phenolic precursors like cardanol and vanillin, for applications requiring specific thermal, mechanical, or electrical properties.
Mixtures of liquid crystal compounds and other additives, such as monomers or carbon black, designed to achieve specific optical, electrical, or physical properties for use in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or other electro-optical devices.
Patents
Showing 1-10 of 854