Micro-gas generation

Abstract

A gas generant composition used in pressure activated restraint system devices such as micro-gas generator applications such as seat belt pretensioners is provided. The gas generant composition includes a potassium perchlorate gas generant additive in addition to a non-azide nitrogen-containing gas generating fuel, a metal ammine nitrate oxidizer, and a metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive. The gas generant composition desirably has improved ignitability as compared to a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive. The gas generant composition also desirably produces or results in effluents having either or both reduced carbon monoxide and NO x contents as compared to the effluent produced or resulting from a similar composition but without the inclusion of the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gas generant composition comprising: 
 between about 25 and about 60 composition weight percent non-azide nitrogen-containing gas generating fuel;    between about 10 and about 55 composition weight percent metal ammine nitrate oxidizer;    between about 0 and about 50 composition weight percent ammonium nitrate supplemental oxidizer component;    between about 2 and about 10 composition weight percent metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive; and    between about 1 and about 20 composition weight percent potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.    
     
     
         2 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition has improved ignitability as compared to a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         3 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein, upon combustion, the composition produces a gas effluent having a lesser relative amount of NO x  as compared to a gas effluent upon combustion of a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         4 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein, upon combustion, the composition produces a gas effluent having a lesser relative amount of carbon monoxide as compared to a gas effluent upon combustion of a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         5 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein the non-azide nitrogen-containing gas generating fuel comprises guanidine nitrate.  
     
     
         6 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein the metal ammine nitrate oxidizer comprises copper diammine dinitrate.  
     
     
         7 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein the metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive is selected from the group consisting of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive is present in an amount of between about 4 and about 10 composition weight percent.  
     
     
         9 . A seat belt pretensioner containing the gas generant composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . An occupant restraint system device containing the gas generant composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A gas generant composition comprising: 
 between about 25 and about 60 composition weight percent guanidine nitrate;    between about 10 and about 55 composition weight percent copper diammine dinitrate;    between about 0 and about 50 composition weight percent ammonium nitrate supplemental oxidizer component;    between about 2 and about 10 composition weight percent metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive selected from the group consisting of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  and mixtures thereof; and    between about 1 and about 20 composition weight percent potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.    
     
     
         12 . The gas generant composition of  claim 11  wherein the composition has improved ignitability as compared to a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         13 . The gas generant composition of  claim 11  wherein, upon combustion, the composition produces a gas effluent having a lesser relative amount of NO x  as compared to a gas effluent upon combustion of a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         14 . The gas generant composition of  claim 11  wherein, upon combustion, the composition produces a gas effluent having a lesser relative amount of carbon monoxide as compared to a gas effluent upon combustion of a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         15 . The gas generant composition of  claim 11  wherein the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive is present in an amount of between about 4 and about 10 composition weight percent.  
     
     
         16 . A seat belt pretensioner containing the gas generant composition of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         17 . A seat belt pretensioner gas generant composition comprising: 
 between about 25 and about 60 composition weight percent guanidine nitrate;    between about 10 and about 55 composition weight percent copper diammine dinitrate;    between about 0 and about 50 composition weight percent ammonium nitrate supplemental oxidizer component;    between about 2 and about 10 composition weight percent metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive selected from the group consisting of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  and mixtures thereof; and    between about 4 and about 10 composition weight percent potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.    
     
     
         18 . The seat belt pretensioner gas generant composition of  claim 17  wherein the composition has improved ignitability as compared to a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         19 . The seat belt pretensioner gas generant composition of  claim 17  wherein, upon combustion, the composition produces a gas effluent having a lesser relative amount of NO x  as compared to a gas effluent upon combustion of a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         20 . The seat belt pretensioner gas generant composition of  claim 17  wherein, upon combustion, the composition produces a gas effluent having a lesser relative amount of carbon monoxide as compared to a gas effluent upon combustion of a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         21 . A method of generating gas suitable for use in an occupant restraint system of a motor vehicle, said method comprising: 
 directly igniting a reactant material including a fuel component containing between about 25 and about 60 composition weight percent of a non-azide nitrogen-containing gas generating fuel, between about 10 and about 55 composition weight percent metal ammine nitrate oxidizer, between about 0 and about 50 composition weight percent ammonium nitrate supplemental oxidizer component, between about 2 and about 10 composition weight percent metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive, and between about 1 and about 20 composition weight percent potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the reactant material has improved ignitability as compared to a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein, upon combustion, the reactant material produces a gas effluent having a lesser relative amount of NO x  as compared to a gas effluent upon combustion of a similar reactant material without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein, upon combustion, the reactant material produces a gas effluent having a lesser relative amount of carbon monoxide as compared to a gas effluent upon combustion of a similar reactant material without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive is present in the reactant material in an amount of between about 4 and about 10 composition weight percent.