Self-healing additive technology

Abstract

A novel gas generant is formed by integrating an additive or compound selected from polymeric compounds, long-chain hydrocarbons, long-chain fluorocarbons, and paraffinic compounds in or about the gas generant. A gas generating composition is formed in a typical manner, and the additive may be either homogeneously mixed within the gas generating composition, or, it may simply be coated over the gas generant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising:
 a non-azide fuel selected from nitroaromatic acids and derivatives thereof;   an oxidizer containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate; and   an additive selected from paraffins, polymers, and long-chain hydrocarbons and long-chain fluorocarbons.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a secondary oxidizer selected from basic metal nitrates, and, metal and nonmetal nitrates, chlorates, perchlorates, nitrites, oxides, and peroxides. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a secondary nonazide fuel selected from carboxylic acids; amino acids; tetrazoles; triazoles; guanidines; azoamides; metal and nonmetal salts thereof; and mixtures thereof, said secondary fuel provided at about 0.1-45 weight percent. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said additive is selected from paraffinic compounds. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said additive is selected from polymeric compounds. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein said additive is selected from natural and
 synthetic paraffins. 
 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein said additive is selected from polyethylene. 
     
     
         8 . A gas generating system containing the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle occupant protection system containing the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a gas generant comprising the steps of:
 forming a composition containing a non-azide fuel and phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate; and   at least partially integrating an additive into the composition, wherein said additive is selected from long-chain hydrocarbons, long-chain fluorocarbons, paraffinic compounds, and polymeric compounds.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said paraffinic and polymeric compounds are selected from paraffin, synthetic paraffin, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said additive is homogeneously mixed into said composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said additive is coated about said composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said additive seals said composition. 
     
     
         15 . A gas generant formed by the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         16 . A gas generating system containing the gas generant formed by the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         17 . A vehicle occupant protection system containing the gas generant formed by the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         18 . A composition comprising:
 a non-azide fuel;   an oxidizer containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate; and   an additive selected from paraffin, synthetic paraffin, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said nitroaromatic acids and derivatives thereof are selected from dinitrosalicylic acid and ammonium dinitrosalicylic acid. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein said non-azide fuel is selected from dinitrosalicylic acid and ammonium dinitrosalicylic acid.