Gas generating composition for automobile airbags

• US 5,536,340 A
• Filed: 01/26/1994
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Coodly P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US08/186,739
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 149/38, 149/70, 149/76
• US Class Current: 149/35
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 35/00 Compositions containing a metal azide
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

A nitrogen gas-generating composition for use in airbags is prepared from an alkali metal azide and a heavy metal sulfide. The gas-generation is initiated by ignition of the composition and results in low residues of solid particulate material.

Claims

1. A solid composition which, upon ignition, decomposes into nitrogen gas and non-toxic solid particulates, and which comprises;

equivalent weights of

(a) a metal azide; and

(b) a heavy metal sulfide; and

an oxidizing proportion of an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, an alkaline metal nitrate, and an alkaline metal perchlorate.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the heavy metal sulfide is an iron sulfide.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the iron sulfide is ferrous sulfide.

4. The composition of claim 2 wherein the iron sulfide is iron disulfide.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein a flow-additive is present.

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the flow-additive is magnesium silicate.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oxidizing agent is potassium nitrate.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oxidizing agent is potassium perchlorate.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oxidizing agent is ammonium perchlorate.

10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the metal azide is sodium azide.

11. The composition of claim 1 formed into pellets having a density in the range of 1.5 to 2.75 gms/cc.

12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the metal azide has a particle size in the range of 5 to 100 microns.

13. The composition of claim 1 wherein the sulfide has a particle size in the range of 1 to 50 microns.

14. The composition of claim 1 wherein the particles of the composition have a surface area in the range of 200-1000 mm² /gm.

16. The composition of claim 1 which further comprises a lubricating proportion of molybdenum disulfide.

15. A solid composition which, upon ignition, decomposes into nitrogen gas and non-toxic solid particulates, and which comprises;

equivalent weights of

(a) a metal azide; and

(b) a heavy metal sulfide; and

an oxidizing proportion of an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, an alkaline metal nitrate, and an alkaline metal perchlorate;

(c) a high explosive selected from the group consisting of nitroguanidine, cyclonite and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine.