Materials selection using patent information: A function‐ and application‐based analysis of aircraft interior structures

Abstract

Materials selection in product design is a complex decision‐making activity due to the necessity of embodying technical requirements into those related to customer, safety, environmental, economic and social aspects. Technological developments have been increasing materials options, thus demanding the manipulation of large amounts of information and data to identify them. This study proposes a monitoring procedure to identify and select materials in innovative product design using patent information. It applies bibliometric techniques to select relevant patents using two different retrieval strategies: (i) driven by the function and (ii) by the application of the product. A case study to search for a more sustainable composite material for aircraft interior structures reveals distinct sets of data and types of technical solutions depending on the patent retrieval strategy used. The function‐based patent retrieval strategy found more disruptive solutions, whereas the application‐based strategy identified mainly improvements in current technology developed by partners of the aeronautical industry.