Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a cationic metal template, sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex, and a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen. The complexes are formulated such that when the complex combusts nitrogen gas and water vapor is produced. Specific examples of such complexes include metal nitrite ammine, metal nitrate ammine, and metal perchlorate ammine complexes, as well as hydrazine complexes. Such complexes are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.

Metal complexes for use as gas generants

A gas generating grain has a water-based particulate booster coating thereon. The coating comprises an alkali metal azide, a water-soluble inorganic oxidizer in approximately a stoichiometric proportion of oxidizer to azide, and a nucleating amount of a small particle size metal oxide, preferably selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, nickel oxide and aluminum oxide. The coating is applied to said grain from a water slurry and dried, and when dried has an average particle size of less than about 50 microns.

Gas generating material

To deploy an inflatable member, such as an occupant restraint safety bag in a motor vehicle, a liquid propellant is expelled from a storage reservoir into a reaction chamber through ports created at frangible pressure points in the reservoir wall and ignited by detonation of an explosive charge to generate a non-toxic, bag inflating gas by exothermic reaction

Liquid propellant inflator for vehicle occupant restraint apparatus

There is disclosed a flame suppressing composition and an apparatus (90) for suppressing a fire. The composition contains a propellant and an effective amount of magnesium carbonate. One apparatus (90) directs the effluent (98) of a propellant (14) at a mixture of ice (96) and water (94) to generate superheated steam (106). Preferably, the effluent (98) is a mixture of hot gases and solid particulate directed by a nozzle (100) to impinge the mixture of ice (96) and water (94).

Apparatus and method for suppressing a fire

There is provided a gas generating composition consisting essentially of a mixture of nitroguanidine and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate. Optionally, an elastomeric binder is also included. When the ammonium nitrate is phase stabilized with from about 7 % to about 20 %, by weight, of a potassium salt, the mixture is structurally and volumetrically stable over typical automotive operating temperatures and has a melting temperature in excess of 100 °C. The mixture generates large volumes of nitrogen and carbon dioxide when ignited with minimal generation of solids or toxic gases and is particularly useful as an inflating medium for automobile airbags.

Thermally stable gas generating composition

This pyrotechnic composition is adapted, upon combustion, for generating a low-flame temperature, non-toxic gas for inflating a vehicle safety bag or other inflatable device. The composition comprises: a fuel, such as a carbonaceous material, aluminum or magnesium; an inorganic oxidizer, such as a metal chlorate, a metal perchlorate, a metal nitrate, ammonium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate or ammonium nitrate; and a coolant or combined binder and coolant, such as magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide or a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. A typical example of this composition comprises: carbon as the fuel; potassium chlorate as the oxidizer; and magnesium carbonate or a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate as the binder-coolant. One may use as much of this later mentioned binder-coolant as is necessary to obtain the desired binding properties in the composition, without raising the flame temperature of the gas to an unacceptable level.

Low temperature gas generator propellant

This pyrotechnic composition is adapted, upon combustion, for generating a low-flame temperature, non-toxic gas for inflating a vehicle safety bag. The composition comprises: a fuel, such as a carbonaceous material, aluminum or magnesium; an inorganic oxidizer, such as a metal chlorate, a metal perchlorate, a metal nitrate, ammonium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate or ammonium nitrate; and a combined binder and coolant, such as magnesium hydroxide or a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. A typical example of this composition comprises: carbon as the fuel; potassium chlorate as the oxidizer; and a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate as the binder-coolant. One may use as much of this binder-coolant as is necessary to obtain the desired binding properties in the composition, without raising the flame temperature of the gas to an unacceptable level.

Pyrotechnic composition with combined binder-coolant

Starch is used as a fuel/binder in pyrotechnic propellant compositions suitable for use in vehicle safety restraint systems.

Starch as fuel in gas generating compositions

A pyrotechnic composition comprising: About 15 to 30% by weight of tartaric acid; About 40 to 75% by weight of sodium chlorate; and About 10 to 30% by weight of calcium hydroxide. The invention also relates to a method of inflating an inflatable automobile safety restraint comprising the step of substantially completely inflating the restraint with the gaseous composition products of combustion of a composition comprising: About 15 to 30% by weight of tartaric acid; About 40 to 75% by weight of sodium chlorate; and About 10 to 30% by weight of calcium hydroxide.

Pyrotechnic composition and method of inflating an inflatable automobile safety restraint

Use of high density polyethylene as a fuel/binder in pyrotechnic compositions suitable for use in inflating vehicle occupant safety restraints.

Eugene F. Garner

Papers

Low temperature gas generator propellant

Pyrotechnic composition with combined binder-coolant

Starch as fuel in gas generating compositions

Pyrotechnic composition and method of inflating an inflatable automobile safety restraint

Polyethylene binder for pyrotechnic composition