Phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate

• US 6,872,265 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): FELTON, AILEEN BAKER
• Application Number:
  US10/354,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 149/46, 149/109.6
• US Class Current: 149/109.6
• CPC Class Codes: C01C 1/18 Nitrates of ammonium
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/37 Stability against thermal decomposition
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 31/28 the salt being ammonium nitrate
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

Ammonium nitrate is phase-stabilized by a synergistic phase stabilization additive combination of at least cupric oxide and potassium nitrate. Specifically, phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate contains between about 94.0 and about 96.0 wt. % ammonium nitrate and between about 4 and 6 wt. % of a synergistic phase stabilization additive combination of at least cupric oxide and potassium nitrate, wherein the cupric oxide is present in a relative amount of no more than about 2.0 wt. %. In some cases, additional stability is imparted by the inclusion of zinc oxide such as in a relative amount of no more than about 1.5 wt. %.

Claims

1. In a method of phase-stabilizing ammonium nitrate, the improvement comprising adding a phase stabilization additive combination of at least CuO and KNO₃ to ammonium nitrate to form a phase stabilized ammonium nitrate composition containing between about 94 and about 96 wt. % ammonium nitrate and between about 4 and 6 wt. % of the phase stabilization additive combination, wherein the CuO is present in a relative amount of no more than about 2.0 wt. %, the weight percentages being calculated with the total of the ammonium nitrate and the phase stabilization additive combination equaling 100 wt. %.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the phase stabilization additive combination additionally comprises ZnO.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the ZnO is present in the composition in a relative amount of no more than about 1.5 wt. %.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the ZnO is present in the composition in a relative amount of between about 0.75 and 1.2 wt. %.

5. A phase stabilized ammonium nitrate composition made by the method of claim 1.

6. A gas generant composition comprising a fuel material and the phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate composition of claim 5.

7. A phase stabilized ammonium nitrate composition made by the method of claim 2.

8. A gas generant composition comprising a fuel material and the phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate composition of claim 7.

9. A phase stabilized ammonium nitrate composition made by the method of claim 3.

10. A gas generant composition comprising a fuel material and the phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate composition of claim 9.

11. A phase stabilized ammonium nitrate composition made by the method of claim 4.

12. A gas generant composition comprising a fuel material and the phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate composition of claim 11.

13. In a method of phase-stabilizing ammonium nitrate, the improvement comprising:

adding a phase stabilization additive combination of CuO and KNO₃ and up to about 1.5 wt. % ZnO to ammonium nitrate to form a phase-stabilizing ammonium nitrate composition containing between about 94 and about 96 wt. % ammonium nitrate and between about 4 and 6 wt. % of the phase stabilization additive combination, wherein the CuO is present in a relative amount of no more than about 2.0 wt. %, the weight percentages being calculated with the total of the ammonium nitrate and the phase stabilization additive combination equaling 100 wt. %.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the ZnO is present in the composition in a relative amount of between about 0.75 and 1.2 wt. %.

15. In a method of phase-stabilizing ammonium nitrate, the improvement comprising adding a phase stabilization additive combination, consisting essentially of CuO and KNO₃, to ammonium nitrate to form a phase stabilized ammonium nitrate composition containing between about 94 and about 96 wt. % ammonium nitrate and between about 4 and 6 wt. % of the phase stabilization additive combination, wherein the CuO is present in a relative amount of no more than about 2.0 wt. %, the weight percentages being calculated with the total of the ammonium nitrate and the phase stabilization additive combination equaling 100 wt. %.