Gas generating compositions
First Claim
1. A low-solids gas generating composition, comprising a mixture of a fuel selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer comprising a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, wherein the alkali metal salt produces an oxide upon combustion that reacts with hydrogen chloride to form an alkali metal chloride, and is present in an amount sufficient to scavenge any hydrogen chloride produced by the ammonium perchlorate during combustion, the ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer and fuel are present in amounts in the oxidizer-fuel mixture, such that the ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer and the fuel of cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, or mixture thereof in the mixture are within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance for a reaction between the ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer and fuel, and the low-solids gas generating composition produces no more than about 30 percent solids on combustion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low-solids gas generating composition, which is a mixture of a fuel selected for the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, a combination of ammonium nitrate with potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, or mixtures thereof, such that the combination is a solid solution, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof. The combination of ammonium nitrate with other salts in solid solution is intended to phase stabilize the ammonium nitrate. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance. Useful alkali metal salts include lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and mixtures thereof. The preferred oxidizers for the gas generating composition of the invention are ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof. In addition, the gas generating composition may include an energizing agent, such as RDX or HMX. The gas generating composition of the invention may further comprise sub-micron fumed silica to reduce moisture contamination and serve as a processing and powder flow aid and/or a binder, and may be in the form of pressed pellets, grains, or granules.
43 Citations
31 Claims
- 1. A low-solids gas generating composition, comprising a mixture of a fuel selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer comprising a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, wherein the alkali metal salt produces an oxide upon combustion that reacts with hydrogen chloride to form an alkali metal chloride, and is present in an amount sufficient to scavenge any hydrogen chloride produced by the ammonium perchlorate during combustion, the ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer and fuel are present in amounts in the oxidizer-fuel mixture, such that the ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer and the fuel of cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, or mixture thereof in the mixture are within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance for a reaction between the ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer and fuel, and the low-solids gas generating composition produces no more than about 30 percent solids on combustion.
- 29. A low-solids gas generating composition, comprising a mixture of a cellulose fuel and an ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer, the ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer consisting essentially of a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, selected from the group consisting of Li2CO3, LiNO3, NaNO3, and KNO3, wherein the alkali metal salt is present in an amount sufficient to scavenge any hydrogen chloride produced by the ammonium perchlorate during combustion, the cellulose fuel and the ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer are present in amounts that provide an oxidizer-fuel mixture within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance for a reaction between the cellulose fuel and the ammonium perchlorate/alkali metal salt oxidizer, and the low-solids gas generating composition produces no more than about 30 percent solids on combustion.
Specification