Abstract: Solid gas generant compositions produce low particulates of the slightly-soluble or insoluble type when combusted. More specifically the solid gas generants and/or ignition compositions are provided which include an effective combination of phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) as a oxidizer component and azodiformamidine dinitrate (AZODN) as the fuel component. Most preferably, the AN is phase stabilized with a phase stabilizing effective amount of a phase stabilizer selected from potassium perchlorate (KP) and/or potassium nitrate (KN).

Abstract: A pyrotechnic gas generant composition includes a high oxygen balance compound or fuel, preferably, azodiformamidine dinitrate, which is the resulting reaction product of an aminoguanidine salt and nitric acid. Specifically, the high oxygen balance compound or fuel of the present invention is the resulting reaction product of aminoguanidine salts, such as aminoguanidine nitrate, aminoguanidine bicarbonate, or aminoguanidine sulfate with nitric acid. Preferably, the aminoguanidine salt is aminoguanidine bicarbonate. The resulting reaction product is a yellow precipitate that can be used alone, with or without oxidizers or other additives, for very rapid self-deflagration or in combination with oxidizers and additives. In each instance, the gas generant composition provides both high gas output and low production of solid combustion products. Further, the precipitant is relatively non-hygroscopic and has a high burn rate.

Abstract: Liquid monopropellants for passive vehicle restraint systems (e.g., air bags) include an aqueous solution of a water-soluble oxidizer and a water-soluble organic fuel miscible with the oxidizer. The oxidizer is most preferably ammonium nitrate, hydrogen peroxide or nitric acid, while the fuel is a lower alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, propanol or glycerol. The liquid monopropellants will advantageously have an oxidation ratio (OR) of greater than about 0.90.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic gas generant composition includes a high oxygen balance compound or fuel, preferably, azodiformamidine dinitrate, which is the resulting reaction product of an aminoguanidine salt and nitric acid. Specifically, the high oxygen balance compound or fuel of the present invention is the resulting reaction product of aminoguanidine salts, such as aminoguanidine nitrate, aminoguanidine bicarbonate, or aminoguanidine sulfate with nitric acid. Preferably, the aminoguanidine salt is aminoguanidine bicarbonate. The resulting reaction product is a yellow precipitate that can be used alone, with or without oxidizers or other additives, for very rapid self-deflagration or in combination with oxidizers and additives. In each instance, the gas generant composition provides both high gas output and low production of solid combustion products. Further, the precipitant is relatively non-hygroscopic and has a high burn rate.

Abstract: Liquid monopropellants for passive vehicle restraint systems (e.g., air bags) include an aqueous solution of a water-soluble oxidizer and a water-soluble organic fuel miscible with the oxidizer. The oxidizer is most preferably ammonium nitrate, hydrogen peroxide or nitric acid, while the fuel is a lower alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, propanol or glycerol. The liquid monopropellants will advantageously have an oxidation ratio (OR) of greater than about 0.90.

Abstract: Fire suppressant compositions which are substantially free of ammonium nitrate and which comprise potassium nitrate in an amount sufficient to generate at least about 10 wt. % potassium carbonate when combusted. Most preferably, a guanidine salt, such as guanidine nitrate, is used in combination with the potassium nitrate. The compositions employed in the present invention have low pressure exponents, high burning rates and low flame temperatures.

Abstract: A family of Class 1.3 propellant compositions comprising nitrocellulose, at least one of a selected group of plasticizing nitrate esters, a thermal stabilizer, carbon and an energetic solid, and a method of making the family of propellant compositions is provided.

Abstract: Gas generative compositions especially useful in inflators for protective passive restraint devices (e.g., motor vehicle air bags, escape slide chutes, lift rafts, and the like) include a nitrogen-containing fuel and an oxidizer selected from copper (II) oxide (CuO), cupric nitrate, basic copper nitrate (Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2.3Cu(OH.sub.2), strontium nitrate (Sr(NO.sub.3).sub.2) and mixtures thereof. Most preferably the nitrogen-containing fuel is azodicarbonamidine dinitrate (AZODN) and/or 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20). The compositions of the present invention provide high burning rates with acceptable burning rate pressure exponents which allow their operation at lower pressures, thereby resulting in the use of less costly, lower weight, and lower strength materials for design and manufacture of the inflator pressure vessel.

Abstract: A nonazide gas generant that may be used in an inflation device, such as a vehicle passenger restraint system, comprising a hydrated or anhydrous mixture of nonazide fuel, an oxidizer and a quantity of copper phthalocyanine, otherwise known as Monarch Blue and/or azodicarbonamidine dinitrate. Specifically, the nonazide gas generant composition of the present invention may include phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN), high bulk density nitroguanidine (HBNQ), one or more nonazide fuels, a quantity of copper phthalocyanine and/or azodicarbonamidine dinitrate and optionally a binder. The gas generant composition of the present invention is capable of self-sustained burning at low or ambient temperatures and pressures, important for use in dual stage "smart" inflator automotive passenger restraint systems, while exhibiting a relatively high gas volume to solid particulate ratio upon combustion at acceptable flame temperatures.

Abstract: In order to allow for at least two different rates of air bag inflation a gas generator is provided with a single pyrotechnic charge which is disposed in a chamber in which argon or a similar type of non-toxic inert gas is stored under pressure. The chamber is closed off by two or more burst discs, only one of which is not exposed to a selectively ignitable squib. The non-exposed burst disc is arranged to breach when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited and increases the gas pressure in the chamber to a predetermined pressure. Each other disc is arranged to withstand the predetermined pressure and requires weakening by exposure to the heat from an associated squib before breaching will occur. The hybrid compressed gas/pyrotechnic pressure generation is such that the rate of air bag inflation varies essentially in proportion to the area of the exit port or ports which are opened by the breach of the burst disc or discs.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic gas generant composition including a high oxygen balance compound or fuel which is the resulting reaction product of aminoguanidine nitrate and nitric acid. Specifically, the resulting reaction product is a yellow precipitate that can be used alone, with or without oxidizers or other additives, for very rapid self-deflagration or in combination with oxidizers and additives. In each instance, the gas generant composition provides both high gas output and low production of solid combustion products. Further, the precipitant is relatively non-hygroscopic and has a high burn rate. Specifically, the gas generating composition is useful as a gas generator for an air bag of an occupant restraint system for an automobile, gun propellants, inflation and expulsion devices, flotation devices, pyrotechnics, fire suppression devices and smokeless, reduced smoke and smokey rocket propellants.

Abstract: In order to fill an inflatable safety restraint device such as an air bag, a relatively small pyrotechnic charge is used to pressurize a chamber of water or other suitable liquid and force the liquid out of the chamber and through a conduit in a manner wherein it is caused to intimately mix and atomize in a high speed stream of gas resulting from the combustion of the pyrotechnic charge. The heat of the combustion gas is absorbed by the liquid which is then converted into a large volume. The vaporized liquid and combustion gas is used to inflate the air bag with an essentially non-toxic, low temperature, low particulate atmosphere. The resulting combustion gas and liquid mixture may also be used to extinguish a fire.

Abstract: A eutectic solution of ammonium nitrate and either aminoguanidiine nitrate (AGN) or guanidine nitrate (AN) in the form of a present pellet is used to generate a particulate-free, non-toxic, odorless and colorless gas that is useful wherever an immediate source of such gas is required, such as the inflation of an occupant restraint air bag. The use of the material in the form of a eutectic totally eliminates pellet cracking. Moreover, the addition of a minor amount of potassium nitrate to the eutectic solution eliminates the ammonium nitrate phase change due to temperature cycling without adversely affecting the pressed pellets' freedom from cracking due to said temperature cycling.

Abstract: An autoignition system for use in an inflator or method of inflating includes a separator which divides a composition capable of spontaneous combustion or autoignition so that it cannot combust until the separator is removed or altered in form. The separator is made of a material which melts at a select temperature so that autoignition will occur upon melting of the separator. The system can also use the separator or a burst disc to sensitize a desensitized spontaneous combustion mixture to achieve autoignition at a desired temperature.

Abstract: A nonazide gas generant that may be used in an inflation device, such as a vehicle passenger restraint system, comprising a hydrated or anhydrous mixture of nonazide fuel, an oxidizer and a quantity of copper phthalocyanine, otherwise known as Monarch Blue and/or azodicarbonamidine dinitrate. Specifically, the nonazide gas generant composition of the present invention may include phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN), high bulk density nitroguanidine (HBNQ), one or more nonazide fuels, a quantity of copper phthalocyanine and/or azodicarbonamidine dinitrate and optionally a binder. The gas generant composition of the present invention is capable of self-sustained burning at low or ambient temperatures and pressures, important for use in dual stage "smart" inflator automotive passenger restraint systems, while exhibiting a relatively high gas volume to solid particulate ratio upon combustion at acceptable flame temperatures.

Abstract: Apparatus for inflating a vehicle air bag and for reducing the inflation rate of the air bag in the event that an occupant of the vehicle engages the air bag before it is fully inflated, including a gas generating unit for producing an inflation gas in response to a predetermined impact to the vehicle, and an aspiration unit operatively connected to the gas generating unit and to the air bag. The aspiration unit includes an ambient air inlet, a mixing chamber in communication with the air inlet, and one or more nozzles in communication with the gas generating unit and the mixing chamber for directing inflation gas into the mixing chamber to aspirate ambient air through the air inlet into the mixing chamber so that a mixture of ambient air and generated inflation gas is created for the inflation of the air bag.

Abstract: This invention relates to gas-generative compositions consisting essentially of ammonium perchlorate with a chlorine scavenger, such as strontium nitrate, barium nitrate, potassium nitrate, or lithium carbonate, the combination being present in an amount of about 30 to about 95% by weight, up to about 5% by weight of a binder, up to about 5% by weight of a burning rate catalyst, together with an organic fuel, such as guanidine nitrate. The fuel is in an amount complementary to the combined weight of ammonium perchlorate, burning rate catalyst, chlorine scavenger, and binder, at an oxidation ratio of 0.90 to 0.98. The invention also includes the method of inflating an inflatable device by generating gas employing the noted composition and a gas generator in which the gas-generative composition is that of the present invention.

Abstract: A composition for generating a non-toxic, non-flammable, odorless gas is disclosed wherein the propellant of said composition is a mixture of about 30% by weight to about 45% by weight KClO.sub.4 with about 55% by weight to 706 by weight of guanidine nitrate or a gas-generative effective derivative thereof with about 1% by weight to 3% by weight cellulose acetate butyrate, the oxidation ratio of oxidizer to fuel being about 0.92 to about 0.98. The method of using said composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A eutectic solution of ammonium nitrate and either aminoguanidine nitrate (AGN) or guanidine nitrate (AN) in the form of a pressed pellet is used to generate a low particulate non-toxic, odorless and colorless gas that is useful wherever an immediate source of such gas is required, such as the inflation of an occupant restraint air bag. The use of the material in the form of a eutectic totally eliminates pellet cracking. Moreover, the addition of a minor amount of potassium perchlorate to the eutectic solution improves stability at 107.degree. for 400 hours, lowers the pressure exponent and increases the burn rate at 2000 psi.

Abstract: A two-part igniter for inflators used to inflate inflation devices such as air bags, lift rafts, slide chutes, and the like which includes a heterogeneous mixture of an ignition material and a consolidated mass of either i) a pyrotechnic component or ii) a composite propellant. The ignition material can be in a granular form or pelletized. The pyrotechnic component or composite propellant is provided as a pellet which is in immediate contact with the ignition material. The pyrotechnic component or composite propellant lowers the auto-ignition temperature of the two-part igniter. The two-part igniter can be used in inflators which generate all inflation gases from gas-generating compositions and in inflators which include a supply of stored pressurized inflation gases.