Gas generant compositions

Abstract

An auto ignition/gas generating composition is provided that contains DL-tartaric acid as a first fuel; a second fuel selected from carboxylic acids; amino acids; tetrazoles; triazoles; guanidines; azoamides; metal and nonmetal salts thereof; and mixtures thereof; and potassium chlorate as a first oxidizer. Potassium perchlorate is also preferably included as a second oxidizer. The composition is typically contained within a gas generating system such as an airbag inflator or seat belt assembly, or more broadly within a vehicle occupant protection system.

1 . A composition comprising:
 DL-tartaric acid as a first fuel provided at about 5-40 percent;   a second fuel selected from carboxylic acids; amino acids; tetrazoles; triazoles; guanidines; azoamides; metal and nonmetal salts thereof; and mixtures thereof, said second fuel provided at about 0.1-30 percent; and   potassium chlorate as a first oxidizer, provided at about 5-70 percent,   wherein said percents are based on the weight of each constituent as compared to the weight of the total composition.   
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a secondary oxidizer provided at about 0.1-50 weight percent of the total composition, said second oxidizer selected from metal perchlorates, metal nitrates, metal nitrites, metal oxides, basic metal nitrates, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a processing aid provided at about 0.1-15 weight percent of the total composition. 
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein said secondary oxidizer is selected from potassium perchlorate, strontium nitrate, potassium nitrate; potassium nitrite; basic copper nitrate; iron oxide, copper oxide; and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said second fuel comprises a carboxylic acid selected from mucic acid, oxalic acid, salicylic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, malonic acid, barbituric acid, glutamic acid, adipic acid, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said second fuel comprises an amino acid selected from glycine, histidine, arginine, and serine, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said second fuel comprises a tetrazole selected from 5-aminotetrazole; potassium 5-aminotetrazole; 5-aminotetrazole nitrate; 5-nitraminotetrazole; dipotassium 5-nitraminotetrazole; dipotassium 5-nitraminotetrazole; and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said second fuel comprises a guanidine selected from nitroguanidine, dicyandiaide, guanidine nitrate, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said second fuel comprises an azoamide selected from azodicarbonamide, azodicarbonamide dinitrate, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       10 . A gas generating system containing the composition of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . A vehicle occupant protection system containing the composition  1 . 
   
   
       12 . A composition comprising:
 DL-tartaric acid as a first fuel;   succinic acid as a second fuel; and   potassium chlorate.   
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 12  further comprising a second oxidizer selected from metal perchlorates, metal nitrates, metal nitrites, metal oxides, basic metal nitrates, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein said second fuel is succinic acid and said second oxidizer is potassium perchlorate. 
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 12  further comprising potassium perchlorate, wherein DL-tartaric acid is provided at about 22-24 weight percent, succinic acid is provided at about 14-16 weight percent, potassium chlorate is provided at about 20-22 weight percent, and potassium perchlorate is provided at about 44-46 weight percent. 
   
   
       16 . A composition comprising DL-tartaric acid provided at about 5-40 weight percent, succinic acid provided at about 0.1-30 weight percent, potassium chlorate provided at about 5-70 weight percent, and potassium perchlorate provided at about 0.1-50 weight percent.