Abstract: Igniter compositions and methods of processing are provided which produce or result in relatively little particulate material, as compared to typical igniter compositions used in association with vehicle occupant restraint airbag cushions.

Abstract: Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a metal cation template, a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen, sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex, and at least one cool burning organic nitrogen-containing compound. 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. A binder and co-oxidizer can be combined with the metal complexes to improve crush strength of the gas generating compositions and to permit efficient combustion of the binder. Such gas generating compositions are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.

Abstract: A novel process for producing bexaammine cobalt(III) nitrate from a cobalt(II) salt is disclosed. The product is useful in formulating gas generant compositions.

Abstract: Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a metal cation template, a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen, and sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex. 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. A binder and co-oxidizer can be combined with the metal complexes to improve crush strength of the gas generating compositions and to permit efficient combustion of the binder. Such gas generating compositions are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.

Abstract: The processing and cure of high solids (>85%) composite propellants at ambient temperature and pressure is accomplished by using a small amount (.ltoreq.0.1 weight percent) of a liquid dialkyl tin catalyst, such as dibutyltindiacetate and dibutyltindilaurate. The propellant binder system is composed of a branched, oxygen-containing polymer, such as polyethers, polypropylene oxide, polybutylene oxide, high homologues or mixtures thereof, and a sterically hindered diisocyanate curing agent. The liquid dialkyl tin catalyst unexpectedly serves as a wetting agent to lower the viscosity of the composite propellant formulation.

Abstract: Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a metal cation template, a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen, and sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex. 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. A binder and co-oxidizer can be combined with the metal complexes to improve crush strength of the gas generating compositions and to permit efficient combustion of the binder. Such gas generating compositions are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.

Abstract: Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a metal cation template, a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen, and sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex. 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. A binder and co-oxidizer can be combined with the metal complexes to improve crush strength of the gas generating compositions and to permit efficient combustion of the binder. Such gas generating compositions are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.

Abstract: A solid composition for generating a nitrogen containing gas is provided. The composition includes an oxidizer and a non-azide fuel selected from a bitetrazoleamine or a derivative or a salt or complex thereof and mixtures thereof. The preferred bitetrazole-amine is bis-(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine, a metal salt, a salt with a nonmetallic cation of a high nitrogen content base or a complex thereof. The salts and complexes are generally metal salts and complexes. The metal can be a transition metal. Metals that have been found to be particularly useful include copper, boron, cobalt, zinc, potassium, sodium, and strontium. The oxidizer is generally a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide. The composition can include certain other components such as secondary oxidizers, burn rate modifiers, slag formers, and binders.

Abstract: Complex 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. Hyradzine 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: High solids pressable explosive compositions containing a liquid energetic polymer and a high performance explosive oxidizer are disclosed. The pressable explosive compositions contain a solids content between 91 and 99 weight percent, with an energetic polymer content less than 9 weight percent. The energetic polymer has a weight average molecular weight greater than 10,000, determined using a polystyrene standard, sufficient to use the polymer precipitation technique in preparing the pressable explosive compositions. Chain-extended PGN (polyglycidyl nitrate) is a preferred energetic polymer. The pressable explosives disclosed herein produce extremely high detonation pressure, high detonation velocity, and excellent metal accelerating capability.

Abstract: The use of 4,10-dinitro-2,6,8,12-tetraoxa-4,10-diazatetrocyclo[5.5.0.0.sup.5,9 0.sup.3,11 ]-dodecane as the major explosive ingredient in compositions useful in high performance, low sensitivity explosive applications is disclosed.

Abstract: A composition is provided which has at least one salt of 5-nitraminotetrazole and an at least one oxidizer selected from among inorganic nitrates, inorganic nitrites, metal oxides, metal peroxides, organic peroxides, inorganic perchlorates, inorganic chlorates, metal hydroxides, and mixtures thereof. The compositions are useful in the gas generant field.

Abstract: A solid composition for generating nitrogen containing gas is provided. The composition includes an oxidizer and a non-azide fuel selected from anhydrous tetrazoles, derivatives, salts, complexes, and mixtures thereof. Preferred tetrazoles include 5-aminotetrazole and bis-(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine, a metal salt, a salt with a nonmetallic cation of a high nitrogen content base or a complex thereof. The salts and complexes are generally metal salts and complexes. The metal can be a transition metal. Metals that have been found to be particularly useful include copper, boron, cobalt, zinc, potassium, sodium, and strontium. The oxidizer is generally a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide. The composition can include certain other components such as secondary oxidizers, burn rate modifiers, slag formers, and binders.

Abstract: A solid composition for generating a nitrogen containing gas is provided. The composition includes an oxidizer and a 5-aminotetrazole fuel selected from anhydrous 5-aminotetrazole derivatives, salts, complexes, and mixtures thereof. The salts and complexes are generally metal salts and complexes. The metal can be a transition metal. Metals that have been found to be particularly useful include copper, boron, cobalt, zinc, potassium, sodium, and strontium. The oxidizer is generally a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide. The composition can include certain other components such as secondary oxidizers, burn rate modifiers, slag formers, and binders.

Abstract: A present method involves preparing an anhydrous gas generant by forming a quantity of granulated anhydrous gas generating material into a shaped charge wherein the gas generating material is an oxidizer and at least one fuel selected from the group consisting of tetrazoles. More particularly, a preferred method involves preparing an anhydrous gas generating composition by preparing a slurry of gas generating material which comprises oxidizer particles larger than 1 micron and fuel particles larger than 1 micron wherein the oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of a metal peroxide, an inorganic nitrate, an inorganic nitrite, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, an inorganic chlorate, an inorganic perchlorate, or a mixture thereof, and the fuel is selected from the group consisting of tetrazoles; granulating the slurry to obtain granules of a selected weight average particle size; drying the granules to an anhydrous condition; and pelletizing the anhydrous granules.

Abstract: Methods of preparing bis-(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine (BTA) having improved physical and chemical characteristics are disclosed. In the process, a dicyanamide salt and an azide salt are reacted at high temperature in the presence of an acid reagent. Best yields are obtained when the reaction is allowed to proceed for approximately 48 hours. The dicyanamide salt is preferably present in a stoichiometric excess. The acid reagent has a pK.sub.a in the range from about 3 to about 9. The reaction mixture is acidified to a pH less than 3. Several variations of the acidification step permit control of particle size and morphology. Small, rounded particles are prepared by rapidly cooling the hot crude reaction product coincidentally with acidification. This is preferably accomplished by adding the hot crude reaction product directly to cold concentrated acid. The precipitated particles are isolated to yield BTA.

Abstract: High reaction temperature explosive compositions which provide enhanced air blast and extended reaction times are disclosed. The explosive compositions include a separate acceptor phase and a separate explosive phase. The acceptor phase contains a halogenated polymer and a reactive metal which are capable of reacting at high temperature and pressure. The explosive phase includes a nonmetallized explosive. Suitable explosives produce a detonation pressure in excess of 200 kilobars at the Chapman-Jouget (C-J) condition.In the explosive compositions disclosed herein, at least a portion of the explosive phase surrounds the acceptor phase. In this configuration, detonation of the explosive phase exposes the acceptor phase to high temperatures and pressures which permit the metal and halogenated polymer to efficiently react and produce even greater temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: A process of preparing 5-aminotetrazole ("5-AT") which proceeds at substantially neutral pH is disclosed. In the process, cyanamide or dicyandiamide and an azide salt are reacted at elevated temperature in the presence of an acid reagent. The acid reagent has a pK.sub.a in the range from about 3 to about 7. Large quantities of hydrazoic acid are not produced during the reaction. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture is acidified to a pH less than 3 to protonate the 5-AT. Several variations of the acidification step permit control of particle size and morphology. The precipitated particles are isolated to yield 5-AT.

Abstract: Polyether organic compounds are described which have both imine and hydroxyl functionality. These materials are synthesized by reacting a primary amine with an aldehyde or ketone to form a Schiff base. By definition, a Schiff base comprises the reaction product of a primary amine and an aldehyde. In this case, however, unlike conventional Schiff bases, the reaction product possesses both hydroxyl and Schiff base functionality. In one embodiment of the invention, such a product is produced by the reaction of a polyoxyalkyleneamine (Jeffamine) with p-nitrobenzaldehyde and glycidol. The result is a polyether having both hydroxyl and Schiff base functionality. The compounds produced in this manner are particularly useful as bonding agents in the formulation of solid propellants. The bonding agents provide superior performance, while avoiding the problems encountered when using existing bonding agents.