Process for producing a gas generating agent

• US 20030030162A1
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akio, Takahori, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,662,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 21/0066 by granulation, e.g. flaking
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/00 Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product explosive charges of particular form or shape F42B1/00, F42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for producing a gas generating agent capable of constantly producing a gas generating agent with a high quality.

The process for producing a gas generating agent comprises the first step of feeding nitroguanidine, a basic copper nitrate and guar gum and stirring and mixing them in the presence of moisture, the second step of extrusion-molding and cutting the mixture, and the third step of drying it.

Claims

1. A process for producing a gas generating agent, which comprises the first step of feeding at least two starting components including a fuel and an oxidizing agent and stirring and mixing them in the presence of moisture, the second step of extrusion-molding the mixture and cutting it, and the third step of drying it.

2. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 1, wherein, in the first step, each of the at least two starting components are fed with moisture and then mixed.

3. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 1, wherein, in the first step, the at least two starting components and moisture are simultaneously fed and then mixed.

4. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 1, wherein, in the first step, the at least two starting components are mixed and simultaneously fed with moisture.

5. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 1, wherein, in the first step, the at least two starting components are preliminarily mixed, then fed with moisture, and further mixed.

6. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the moisture is fed by spraying.

7. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the moisture is an aqueous solution, water or water vapor.

8. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the moisture has an electrical conductance of not higher than 2 μ

S/cm, and is used in the form of an aqueous solution, water or water vapor.

9. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the moisture is ion-exchanged water and/or distilled water.

10. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, in the first step, an amount of moisture in the mixture of the starting components is adjusted to 5 to 60% by weight.

11. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mixing conditions in the first step are the temperatures of 20 to 100°

C. and the time of 10 to 120 minutes.

12. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mixing conditions in the first step are the temperatures of 20 to 100°

C. and the time of 1 to 10 minutes.

13. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, in the first step, the moisture is partially removed by volatilization while mixing.

14. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, in the first step, the moisture is partially removed by volatilization after mixing.

15. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 14, wherein the moisture is removed by volatilization at a higher temperature by 0 to 80°

C. than the temperature at the time of mixing.

16. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein, in the first step, the moisture is removed by volatilization so that an amount of moisture in the mixture of the starting components is reduced to 5 to 30% by weight.

17. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein, in the first step, the moisture is partially removed by volatilization while mixing, and then cooling treatment is performed.

18. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 17, wherein the temperature of the mixture after cooling treatment is 30 to 65°

C.

19. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the stirring rotation at the time of the cooling treatment is reversed and/or forwarded.

20. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 19, which includes an aging step of keeping the mixture at 30 to 50°

C. for 8 hours or more between the first and second steps.

21. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein an amount of moisture in the mixture of the starting compounds at the time of being transferred from the first step to the second step is 5 to 30% by weight.

22. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein an amount of moisture in the mixture of the starting compounds at the time of extrusion-molding in the second step is adjusted to 5 to 30% by weight.

23. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein, at the time of extrusion molding in the second step, the mixture is pre-molded at the molding pressure of 70 MPa or less and then molded at the molding pressure of 70 MPa or less.

24. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein, in the third step, the mixture is dried so that an amount of moisture in the gas generating agent is reduced to 0.7% by weight or less.

25. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 24, wherein, in the third step, the mixture is pre-dried at 20 to 40°

C. and then further dried at 80 to 120°

C.

26. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 25, which further includes classification treatment after the third step.

27. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the fuel is a nitrogen-containing compound.

28. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 27, wherein the nitrogen-containing compound is a guanidine derivative.

29. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the oxidizing agent is a basic metal nitrate.

30. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the fuel is nitroguanidine, and the oxidizing agent is a basic copper nitrate.

31. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein an additive is further included as the at least two starting components.

32. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 31, wherein the additive is a binder and/or a slag-forming agent.

33. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 32, wherein the viscosity of aqueous solution in 1% by weight of the binder is 100 to 10,000 mPas.

34. The gas generating agent according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the additive is guar gum or carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt.

35. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein, in the first step, an aqueous solution of the binder is fed as the moisture.

36. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein there is obtained a molded article having one, two or three requirements selected from the following requirements (x), (y) and (z):

(x) a shape of the molded article is in the form of a single-perforated cylinder or a perforated (porous) cylinder,

(y) a reduced mass ratio of the molded article after being kept at 110°

C. for 400 hours is 1% or less, and

(z) a mass reduction by heating of the molded article is 0.7% by weight or less.

37. A process for producing a gas generating agent comprising at least two starting components including a fuel and an oxidizing agent, which includes the step of kneading and mixing the starting components in the presence of moisture by a screwed twin-shaft extruder.

38. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 37, wherein the screwed twin-shaft extruder is a twin-screw extruder.

39. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 37 or 38, which further includes the step of extrusion-molding and cutting the kneaded material and the step of drying it.

40. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 37 or 38, which includes the step of kneading the mixture in a screwed twin-shaft extruder provided with a die in the extrusion orifice thereof in the kneading step, extrusion-molding it into an article of desired shape through the die, and immediately cutting it and the step of drying the article.

41. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 37 or 38, which comprises the step of kneading the mixture in a screwed twin-shaft extruder provided with a die in the extrusion orifice thereof in the kneading step, extrusion-molding it through the die to give a molded article in the form of a strand and then cutting it and the step of dying it.

42. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 41, wherein, in the kneading step, an amount of moisture in the mixture of the starting components is adjusted to 5 to 60% by weight.

43. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 42, wherein an additive is further used as a starting component in the kneading step.

44. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 43, wherein, in the kneading step, the at least two starting components are preliminarily mixed and fed to a screwed twin-shaft extruder.

45. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 44, wherein, when the starting components are three kinds of components i.e. fuel, an oxidizing agent and an additive, only the oxidizing agent and the additive are preliminarily mixed, and the mixture and fuel are fed to a screwed twin-shaft extruder.

46. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 45, wherein the moisture is fed separately from the starting components to a screwed twin-shaft extruder, or the moisture is added to part or the whole of the starting components.

47. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 46, wherein the moisture is an aqueous solution, water or water vapor.

48. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 47, wherein the moisture has an electrical conductance of not higher than 2 μ

S/cm, and is used in the form of an aqueous solution, water or water vapor.

49. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 48, wherein the moisture is ion-exchanged water and/or distilled water.

50. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 49, wherein the mixing conditions in the kneading step are the temperature of 20 to 100°

C. and the time of 1 to 10 minutes.

51. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 50, wherein, in the kneading step, the moisture is partially removed by volatilization while mixing.

52. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 51, which includes the aging step of keeping the mixture at 30 to 50°

C. for 8 hours or more between the kneading step and its subsequent step.

53. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 52, wherein an amount of moisture in the mixture of the starting compounds at the time of being transferred from the kneading step to its subsequent step is 5 to 30% by weight.

54. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 53, wherein an amount of moisture in the mixture of the starting compounds at the time of molding or extrusion-molding in an extruder is adjusted to 5 to 30% by weight.

55. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 54, wherein the mixture is pre-molded at the molding pressure of 70 MPa or less at the time of molding and then molded at the molding pressure of 70 MPa or less.

56. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 55, wherein, in the drying step, the mixture is dried so that an amount of moisture in the gas generating agent is reduced to 0.7% by weight or less.

57. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 56, wherein, in the drying step, the mixture is pre-dried at 20 to 40°

C. and then dried at 80 to 120°

C.

58. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 57, which further includes classification treatment after the drying step.

59. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 58, wherein the fuel of the at least two starting components is a nitrogen-containing compound.

60. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 59, wherein the nitrogen-containing compound is a guanidine derivative.

61. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 60, wherein the oxidizing agent of the at least two starting components is a basic metal nitrate.

62. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 61, wherein the fuel is nitroguanidine, and the oxidizing agent is a basic copper nitrate.

63. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 62, wherein an additive is further contained as the at least two starting compounds.

64. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 63, wherein the additive is a binder and/or a slag-forming agent.

65. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 64, wherein the viscosity of aqueous solution in 1% by weight of the binder is 100 to 10,000 mPas.

66. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to claim 64 or 65, wherein the additive is guar gum or carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt.

67. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 66, wherein an aqueous solution of the binder is fed as the moisture in the first step.

68. The process for producing a gas generating agent according to any one of claims 37 to 67, wherein there is obtained a molded article having one, two or three requirements selected from the following requirements (x), (y) and (z):

(x) a shape of the molded article is in the form of a single-perforated cylinder or a perforated (porous) cylinder,

(y) a reduced mass ratio of the molded article after being kept at 110°

C. for 400 hours is 1% or less, and

(z) a mass reduction by heating of the molded article is 0.7% by weight or less.

69. A gas generating agent obtained by feeding at least two starting components including a fuel and an oxidizing agent and mixing and molding the mixture in the presence of a solvent, said gas generating agent having one, two or three requirements selected from the following requirements (x), (y) and (z):

(x) a shape of the molded article is in the form of a single-perforated cylinder or a perforated (porous) cylinder,

(y) a reduced mass ratio of the molded article after being kept at 110°

C. for 400 hours is 1% or less, and

(z) a mass reduction by heating of the molded article is 0.7% by weight or less.

70. The gas generating agent according to claim 69, wherein a solvent fed to the starting components is moisture in the form of an aqueous solution, water or water vapor, or an organic solvent.

71. The gas generating agent according to claim 70, wherein the moisture has an electrical conductance of not higher than 2 μ

S/cm.

72. The gas generating agent according to claim 70 or 71, wherein the moisture is ion-exchanged water and/or distilled water.

73. The gas generating agent according to any one of claims 69 to 72, wherein the fuel of the at least two starting components is a nitrogen-containing compound.

74. The gas generating agent according to claim 73, wherein the nitrogen-containing compound is a guanidine derivative.

75. The gas generating agent according to any one of claims 69 to 74, wherein the oxidizing agent of the at least two starting components is a basic metal nitrate.

76. The gas generating agent according to any one of claims 69 to 75, wherein the fuel is nitroguanidine, and the oxidizing agent is a basic copper nitrate.

77. The gas generating agent according to any one of claims 69 to 76, wherein an additive is further included as the at least two starting components.

78. The gas generating agent according to claim 77, wherein the additive is a binder and/or a slag-forming agent.

79. The gas generating agent according to claim 78, wherein the viscosity of aqueous solution in 1% by weight of the binder is 100 to 10,000 mPas.

80. The gas generating agent according to claim 78 or 79, wherein the additive is guar gum or carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt.

81. The gas generating agent according to any one of claims 69 to 80, wherein a binder solution is fed as the solvent.

82. The gas generating agent according to any one of claims 69 to 81, which is obtained by a process comprising the first step of feeding at least two starting components containing a fuel and an oxidizing agent, stirring and mixing them in the presence of moisture, the second step of extrusion-molding the mixture and cutting it, and the third step of drying it.

83. The gas generating agent according to any one of claims 69 to 81, which is obtained by a process including the step of kneading and mixing the starting components in the presence of a solvent in a screwed twin-shaft extruder.

84. The gas generating agent according to claim 83, which is obtained by the process in which the screwed twin-shaft extruder is a twin-screw extruder.

85. The gas generating agent according to claim 83 or 84, which is obtained by the process including the step of kneading and mixing the starting components in the presence of a solvent in a screwed twin-shaft extruder, the step of extrusion-molding and cutting the kneaded material and the step of drying it.

86. The gas generating agent according to claim 83 or 84, which is obtained by the process comprising the step of kneading and mixing the mixture in a screwed twin-shaft extruder provided with a die in the extrusion orifice thereof in the kneading step, extrusion-molding it into an article of desired shape through the die and immediately cutting it, and the step of drying it.

87. The gas generating agent according to claim 83 or 84, which is obtained by the process comprising the step of kneading and mixing the mixture in a screwed twin-shaft extruder provided with a die in the extrusion orifice thereof in the kneading step, extrusion-molding it through the die to give a molded article in the form of a strand and then cutting it, and the step of dying the article.