Chlorine-containing gas generant compositions including a copper-containing chlorine scavenger

Abstract

A chlorine-containing gas generant composition and a related method for generating an inflation gas for use in an inflatable restraint system are provided. The chlorine-containing gas generant composition includes a nitrogen-containing fuel such as guanidine nitrate, ammonium perchlorate oxidizer, and a chlorine scavenger present in an amount effective to result in a gaseous effluent that is substantially free of hydrogen chloride when the gas generant is combusted, wherein at least about 98 weight percent of the chlorine scavenger is a copper-containing compound such as a copper nitrate complex, basic copper nitrate, cupric oxide or a combination thereof.

1 . A chlorine-containing gas generant composition consisting essentially of: 
 a nitrogen-containing fuel;    ammonium perchlorate oxidizer; and    a chlorine scavenger present in an amount effective to result in a gaseous effluent that is substantially free of hydrogen chloride when the gas generant is combusted;    wherein at least about 98 weight percent of the chlorine scavenger is a copper-containing compound selected from the group consisting of copper nitrate complexes, basic copper nitrate, cupric oxide, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 1  containing no more than about 1 composition weight percent of a copper-free chlorine scavenger.  
     
     
         3 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein the nitrogen-containing fuel is selected from the group consisting of amine nitrates, nitramines, heterocyclic nitro compounds, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein the nitrogen-containing fuel is guanidine nitrate.  
     
     
         5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein the copper-containing compound is copper diammine dinitrate.  
     
     
         7 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein the copper-containing compound is basic copper nitrate.  
     
     
         8 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 1  including: 
 about 1 to about 20 composition weight percent ammonium perchlorate; and    about 80 to about 99 composition weight percent of a precursor blend,    wherein the precursor blend includes the nitrogen-containing fuel and the chlorine scavenger.    
     
     
         9 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 8  wherein the precursor blend includes: 
 about 30 to about 70 composition weight percent of a nitrogen-containing fuel; and    about 30 to about 70 composition weight percent of a chlorine scavenger.    
     
     
         10 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 9  wherein the precursor blend further includes up to about 10 composition weight percent of at least one metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive.  
     
     
         11 . The chlorine-containing gas generant of  claim 10  wherein the metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive is selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The chlorine-containing gas generant of  claim 9  wherein the precursor blend further includes up to about 10 composition weight percent of at least one compound effective to enhance combustion of ammonium perchlorate.  
     
     
         13 . The chlorine-containing gas generant of  claim 12  wherein the combustion enhancer is selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, copper chromite, Iron Blue pigments, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The chlorine-containing gas generant of  claim 12  wherein the combustion enhancer is an Iron Blue pigment.  
     
     
         15 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 9  wherein the precursor blend includes: guanidine nitrate fuel; and a chlorine scavenger including copper diammine dinitrate.  
     
     
         16 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 9  wherein the precursor blend includes: guanidine nitrate fuel; and a chlorine scavenger including basic copper nitrate.  
     
     
         17 . A method for generating an inflation gas for inflating an airbag cushion of an inflatable restraint system of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: 
 igniting the chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 1  to produce a quantity of inflation gas; and    inflating the airbag cushion with the inflation gas.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the inflation gas is substantially free of hydrogen chloride.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the chlorine-containing gas generant composition contains no more than about 1 composition weight percent of a copper-free chlorine scavenger.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the chlorine-containing gas generant composition includes: 
 about 1 to about 20 composition weight percent ammonium perchlorate oxidizer, and    about 80 to about 99 composition weight percent of a precursor blend;    wherein the precursor blend includes the nitrogen-containing fuel and the chlorine scavenger.    
     
     
         21 . A chlorine-containing gas generant composition providing an improved gaseous effluent, the chlorine-containing gas generant composition consisting essentially of: 
 about 1 to about 20 composition weight percent ammonium perchlorate oxidizer, and    about 80 to about 99 composition weight percent of a precursor blend including:    guanidine nitrate fuel; and    a chlorine scavenger in an amount effective to result in a gaseous effluent substantially free of hydrogen chloride,    wherein at least about 98 weight percent of the chlorine scavenger is a copper-containing compound selected from the group consisting of copper nitrate complexes, basic copper nitrate, cupric oxide, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         22 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 21  wherein the precursor blend includes: 
 about 30 to about 70 composition weight percent of guanidine nitrate fuel; and    about 30 to about 70 composition weight percent of a chlorine scavenger.    
     
     
         23 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 21  containing no more than about 1 composition weight percent of a copper-free chlorine scavenger.  
     
     
         24 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 21  wherein the copper-containing compound is copper diammine dinitrate.  
     
     
         25 . The chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 21  wherein the copper-containing compound is basic copper nitrate.  
     
     
         26 . A method for generating an inflation gas for inflating an airbag cushion of an inflatable system of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: 
 igniting the chlorine-containing gas generant composition of  claim 21  to produce a quantity of inflation gas; and    inflating the airbag cushion with the inflation gas.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the precursor blend includes: 
 about 30 to about 70 composition weight percent guanidine nitrate fuel; and    about 30 to 70 composition weight percent of a chlorine scavenger.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the inflation gas is substantially free of hydrogen chloride.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the precursor blend additionally includes a metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the precursor blend includes: 
 about 30 to about 60 composition weight percent guanidine nitrate;    about 30 to about 68 composition weight percent copper diammine dinitrate; and    silicon dioxide in an amount up to about 10 composition weight percent.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the precursor blend includes: 
 about 35 to about 60 composition weight percent guanidine nitrate;    about 30 to 60 composition weight percent basic copper nitrate; and    at least one metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive in an amount up to about 5 composition weight percent.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the precursor blend further includes at least one combustion enhancer selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, copper chromite, Iron Blue pigments, and combinations thereof in an amount up to about 5 composition weight percent.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the precursor blend further includes comprises at least one Iron Blue pigment in an amount of up to about 5 composition weight percent.