Gas generant

Abstract

Gas generant compositions contain the mono-ammonium salt of bis (1(2) H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine, an oxidizer such as phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, and a first additive selected from fumed oxides such as fumed silica. Gas generators 10 and gas generating systems 200 incorporating the compositions are also contemplated.

1 . A gas generant composition comprising: 
 a first oxidizer selected from metal and nonmetal nitrates; metal nitrites, metal and nonmetal perchlorates, metal oxides, basic metal nitrates, said first oxidizer provided at about 0.1 to 80% by weight of the gas generant composition;    a first fuel consisting of mono-ammonium salt of bis-(1(2) H-tetrazol-5-yl)amine, mono-ammonium salt, said first fuel provided at about 0.1 to 50% by weight of the gas generant composition; and    a first additive selected from fumed metal oxides, said first additive provided in amounts no greater than 10% by weight of the gas generant composition.    
     
     
         2 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second fuel selected from derivatives of bis-(1(2) H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine including its anhydrous acid, its acid monohydrate, metal salts, and complexes thereof; azoles, metal salts of azoles, nonmetal and metal salts of nitramine derivatives of azoles; guanidines; salts of guanidines; nitro derivatives of guanidines; azoamides; nitrate salts of azoamides, and mixtures thereof; said second fuel provided at about 0.1-49.9% by weight of the gas generant composition.    
     
     
         3 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second additive selected from silicon, silicon dioxide, fused silicon, silicones; silicates; natural minerals including clay, mica, and talc; lubricants including graphite, magnesium stearate, boron nitride, molybdenum sulfide; and mixtures thereof, said second additive provided at about 0.1 to 10% by weight of the gas generant composition.    
     
     
         4 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  further comprising a secondary oxidizer.  
     
     
         5 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  further comprising a binder selected from cellulose derivatives, polyalkenes carbonates, and mixtures thereof, said binder provides at about 0.1 to 10% by weight of the gas generant composition.  
     
     
         6 . A gas generator containing the composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . A vehicle occupant protection system containing the composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  comprising the mono-ammonium salt of bis (1(2) H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine at about 0.1 to 50% by weight of the gas generant composition, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate at about 0.1 to 80% by weight of the gas generant composition, and fumed silica at about 0.1 to 10% by weight of the gas generant composition.  
     
     
         9 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein said first oxidizer is selected from ammonium nitrate, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, potassium nitrite, potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, iron oxide, copper oxide, basic copper nitrate, basic iron nitrate, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The gas generant composition of  claim 2  wherein said second fuel is selected from a potassium, sodium, strontium, copper, boron and zinc salt of bis-(1(2)H-tetrazol-5-yl)-amine; 5-aminotetrazole; potassium 5-aminotetrazole; mono-ammonium salt of 5,5-bis-1H-tetrazole and di-ammonium salt of 5,5-bis-1 H-tetrazole; 5-aminotetrazole nitrate; nitraminotetrazole; di-potassium 5-nitram inotetrazole; mono-ammonium nitram inotetrazole and d i-am monium nitram inotetrazole; dicyandiamide; guanidine nitrate; nitroguanidine; azodicarbonamide, azodicarbonamidine di-nitrate; and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein said fumed metal oxide is selected from fumed silica and fumed alumina.  
     
     
         12 . The gas generant composition of  claim 1  wherein said fumed metal oxide is fumed silica provided at about 0.75% by weight of the gas generant composition.