Azide-free gas generant composition with easily filterable combustion products

• US 5,035,757 A
• Filed: 10/25/1990
• Issued: 07/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Poole, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US07/603,469
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 149/46, 149/61, 149/76, 149/77, 149/45, 149/70, 149/75, 149/83, 149/85
• US Class Current: 149/46
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

A gas generant composition devoid of azides which yields solid combustion products which are easily filtered rendering the gases useful for inflating automobile occupant restraint bags.

Claims

1. A pyrotechnic, combustion filterable slag-particles forming gas generating mixture useful for inflating an automobile or aircraft safety crash bag, said pyrotechnic mixture comprising at least one material of each of the following functional groups of materials:

a. A fuel selected from the group of azole compounds consisting of triazole aminotetrazole, tetrazole, bitetrazole and metal salts of these compounds,

b. An oxygen containing oxidizer compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, lanthanide and ammonium nitrates and perchlorates or from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal chlorates and peroxides,

c. A high temperature slag forming material selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal oxides, hydroxides, cabonates, and oxalates,

d. A low-temperature slag forming material which is sufficient in amount during combustion to cause the solid combustion particles to coalesce into easily filterable slag or clinkers but not so much as to make a low viscosity liquid, selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, boric oxide and vanadium pentoxide or from the group consisting of alkali metal silicates, borates, and carbonates or from the group consisting of naturally occurring clays and talcs.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fuel comprises 5-aminotetrazole which is present in a concentration of about 22 to about 36% by weight, said oxygen containing oxidizer compound comprises strontium nitrate which is present in a concentration of about 38 to about 62% by weight, and said low-temperature slag former is silicon dioxide which is present in a concentration of about 2 to about 18% by weight.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fuel comprises the strontium salt of 5-aminotetrazole which is present in a concentration of about 30 to about 50% by weight, said oxygen containing oxidizer compound comprises potassium nitrate which is present in a concentration of about 40 to about 60% by weight and said low temperature slag former comprises talc which is present in a concentration of about 2 to about 10% by weight.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fuel comprises 5-aminotetrazole which is present in a concentration of about 22 to about 36% by weight, said oxygen containing oxidizer compound comprises sodium nitrate which is present in a concentration of about 30 to about 50% by weight, said high-temperature slag forming material comprises magnesium carbonate which is present in a concentration of about 8 to about 30% by weight and said low-temperature slag former comprises silicon dioxide which is present in a concentration of about 2 to about 20% by weight.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fuel compound comprises 5-aminotetrazole which is present in a concentration of about 22 to about 36% by weight, said oxygen containing oxidizer compound comprises sodium nitrate which is present in a concentration of about 30 to about 50% by weight, said high-temperature slag forming material comprises magnesium hydroxide which is present in a concentration of about 8 to about 30% by weight and said low-temperature slag former comprises silicon dioxide which is present in a concentration of about 2 to about 20% by weight.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fuel comprises the strontium salt of 5-aminotetrazole which is present in a concentration of about 30 to about 50% by weight, said oxygen containing oxidizer compound comprises potassium nitrate which is present in a concentration of about 40 to about 60% by weight and said low temperature slag former comprises clay which is present in a concentration of about 2 to about 10% by weight.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the potassium salt of 5-aminotetrazole which is present in a concentration of about 2 to about 30% by weight serves in part as a fuel and in part as a low-temperature slag former and wherein 5-aminotetrazole in a concentration of about 8 to about 40% by weight also serves as a fuel, and wherein clay in a concentration of about 2 to about 10% by weight serves in part as the low-temperature slag former and wherein strontium nitrate in a concentration of about 40 to about 66% by weight serves as both the oxygen containing oxidizer and high-temperature slag former.

8. A slag forming gas generating composition for an inflatable occupant restraint system comprising a mixture of:

(a) about 22 to about 36 percent by weight of 5-aminotetrazole,

(b) about 38 to about 62 percent by weight of strontium nitrate, and

(c) about 2 to about 18 percent by weight of silicon dioxide.

9. A slag forming gas generating composition for an inflatable occupant restraint system comprising a mixture of:

(a) about 22 to about 36 percent by weight of 5-aminotetrazole,

(b) about 38 to about 62 percent by weight of strontium nitrate, and

(c) about 2 to about 18 percent by weight of clay.

10. A slag forming gas generating composition for an inflatable occupant restraint system comprising a mixture of:

(a) about 22 to about 36 percent by weight of 5-aminotetrazole,

(b) about 38 to about 62 percent by weight of strontium nitrate, and

(c) about 2 to about 18 percent by weight of boric acid.

11. A slag forming gas generating composition for an inflatable occupant restraint system comprising a mixture of:

(a) about 22 to about 30 percent by weight of 5-aminotetrazole,

(b) about 10 to about 40 percent by weight of iron oxide,

(c) about 30 to about 50 percent by weight of sodium nitrate, and

(d) about 2 to about 20 percent by weight of silicon dioxide.

12. A slag forming gas generating composition for an inflatable occupant restraint system comprising a mixture of:

(a) about 22 to about 36 percent by weight of 5-aminotetrazole,

(b) about 8 to about 62 percent by weight of strontium nitrate,

(c) about 0 to about 42 percent by weight of sodium nitrate, and

(d) about 2 to about 18 percent by weight of silicon dioxide.

13. A slag forming gas generating composition for an inflatable occupant restraint system comprising a mixture of:

(a) about 22 to about 36 percent by weight of 5-aminotetrazole,

(b) about 30 to about 50 percent by weight of sodium nitrate,

(c) about 8 to about 30 percent by weight of magnesium carbonate, and

(d) about 2 to about 20 percent by weight of silicon dioxide.

14. A slag forming gas generating composition for an inflatable occupant restraint system comprising a mixture of:

(a) about 22 to about 36 percent by weight of 5-aminotetrazole,

(b) about 30 to about 50 percent by weight of sodium nitrate,

(c) about 8 to about 30 percent by weight of magnesium hydroxide, and

(d) about 2 to about 20 percent by weight of silicon dioxide.

15. A slag forming gas generating composition for an inflatable occupant restraint system comprising a mixture of:

(a) about 20 to about 34 percent by weight of 1,2, 4-triazole-5-one,

(b) about 40 to about 78 percent by weight of strontium nitrate, and

(c) about 2 to about 20 percent by weight of silicon dioxide.