Gas generant compositions

Abstract

A gas generant composition is provided that contains a transitional metal salt of 5-aminotetrazole and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate. A gas generator incorporating the gas generant composition is also provided. The gas generator may be 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:
 a first fuel selected from transitional metal complexes of 5-aminotetrazole; and   phase stabilized ammonium nitrate as a primary oxidizer,   wherein said first fuel is provided at about 5-70% and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate is provided at about 5-70%, said percentages stated by weight of the total composition.   
   
   
       2 . A gas generating system containing the composition of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       3 . A vehicle occupant protection system containing the composition of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one secondary fuel selected from the group consisting of tetrazoles, metal salts of azoles, nonmetal salts of azoles, nitrate salts of azoles, nitramine derivatives of azoles, metal salts of nitramine derivatives of azoles, guanidines, nitro derivatives of guanidines, azoamides, nitrate salts of azoamides, and mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one secondary fuel selected from the group consisting of 5-aminotetrazole, potassium 5-aminotetrazole, diammonium salt of 5,5′-bis-1H-tetrazole, 5-aminotetrazole nitrate, dipotassium 5-aminotetrazole, dicyandiamide, guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine, azodicarbonamide, azodicarbonamidine dinitrate, and mixtures thereof, said secondary fuel when combined with said transitional metal complex of 5-aminotetrazole provided at about 5-70 weight percent of the total composition.   
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one secondary oxidizer selected from the group consisting of metal nitrates, basic metal nitrates, metal nitrites, metal oxides, metal and nonmetal perchlorates, metal and nonmetal chlorates, and mixtures thereof, said secondary oxidizer provided at about 0.1-25 weight percent of the total composition.   
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one secondary oxidizer selected from the group consisting of strontium nitrate, potassium nitrate; potassium nitrite; iron oxide; ammonium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, and mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said transition metal complex of 5-aminotetrazole is selected from copper 5-aminotetrazole, nickel 5-aminotetrazole, and zinc 5-aminotetrazole. 
   
   
       9 . A composition comprising:
 copper 5-aminotetrazole complex as a first fuel; and   phase stabilized ammonium nitrate as a primary oxidizer,   wherein said first fuel is provided at about 5-70% and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate is provided at about 5-70%, said percentages stated by weight of the total composition.   
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 9  further comprising:
 at least one secondary fuel selected from the group consisting of tetrazoles, metal salts of azoles, nonmetal salts of azoles, nitrate salts of azoles, nitramine derivatives of azoles, metal salts of nitramine derivatives of azoles, guanidines, nitro derivatives of guanidines, azoamides, nitrate salts of azoamides, and mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 9  further comprising:
 at least one secondary fuel selected from the group consisting of 5-aminotetrazole, potassium 5-aminotetrazole, diammonium salt of 5,5′-bis-1H-tetrazole, 5-aminotetrazole nitrate, dipotassium 5-aminotetrazole, dicyandiamide, guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine, azodicarbonamide, azodicarbonamidine dinitrate, and mixtures thereof, said secondary fuel when combined with said transitional metal complex of 5-aminotetrazole provided at about 5-70 weight percent of the total composition.   
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 9  further comprising:
 at least one secondary oxidizer selected from the group consisting of metal nitrates, basic metal nitrates, metal nitrites, metal oxides, metal and nonmetal perchlorates, metal and nonmetal chlorates, and mixtures thereof, said secondary oxidizer provided at about 0.1-25 weight percent of the total composition.   
   
   
       13 . A composition comprising:
 a first fuel selected from the group consisting of copper 5-aminotetrazole, nickel 5-aminotetrazole, and zinc 5-aminotetrazole; and   phase stabilized ammonium nitrate as a primary oxidizer,   wherein said first fuel is provided at about 5-70% and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate is provided at about 5-70%, said percentages stated by weight of the total composition.   
   
   
       14 . The composition of  claim 13  further comprising:
 at least one secondary fuel selected from the group consisting of tetrazoles, metal salts of azoles, nonmetal salts of azoles, nitrate salts of azoles, nitramine derivatives of azoles, metal salts of nitramine derivatives of azoles, guanidines, nitro derivatives of guanidines, azoamides, nitrate salts of azoamides, and mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 13  further comprising:
 at least one secondary fuel selected from the group consisting of 5-aminotetrazole, potassium 5-aminotetrazole, diammonium salt of 5,5′-bis-1H-tetrazole, 5-aminotetrazole nitrate, dipotassium 5-aminotetrazole, dicyandiamide, guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine, azodicarbonamide, azodicarbonamidine dinitrate, and mixtures thereof, said secondary fuel when combined with said transitional metal complex of 5-aminotetrazole provided at about 5-70 weight percent of the total composition.   
   
   
       16 . The composition of  claim 13  further comprising:
 at least one secondary oxidizer selected from the group consisting of metal nitrates, basic metal nitrates, metal nitrites, metal oxides, metal and nonmetal perchlorates, metal and nonmetal chlorates, and mixtures thereof, said secondary oxidizer provided at about 0.1-25 weight percent of the total composition.