CA1048272A - Low temperature gas generator propellant - Google Patents
Low temperature gas generator propellantInfo
- Publication number
- CA1048272A CA1048272A CA75232055A CA232055A CA1048272A CA 1048272 A CA1048272 A CA 1048272A CA 75232055 A CA75232055 A CA 75232055A CA 232055 A CA232055 A CA 232055A CA 1048272 A CA1048272 A CA 1048272A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- magnesium
- magnesium hydroxide
- coolant
- magnesium carbonate
- composition
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
- C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
- C06B23/00—Compositions characterised by non-explosive or non-thermic constituents
- C06B23/04—Compositions characterised by non-explosive or non-thermic constituents for cooling the explosion gases including antifouling and flash suppressing agents
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
- C06D—MEANS FOR GENERATING SMOKE OR MIST; GAS-ATTACK COMPOSITIONS; GENERATION OF GAS FOR BLASTING OR PROPULSION (CHEMICAL PART)
- C06D5/00—Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets
- C06D5/06—Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets by reaction of two or more solids
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Air Bags (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT Of THE DISCLOSURE
This pyrotechnic composition is adapted, upon combustion, for generating a low flame temperature, non-toxic gas for inflating a vehicle safety bag or other inflatable device.
The composition comprises: a fuel, such as a carbonaceous material, aluminum or magnesium, an inorganic oxidizer, such as a metal chlorates a metal perchlorate, a metal nitrate, ammonium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate or ammonium nitrate;
and a coolant or combined binder and coolant, such as magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide or a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. A typical example of this composition comprises: carbon as the fuel; potassium chlorate as the oxidizer; and magnesium carbonate or a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate as the binder-coolant. One may use as much of this later mentioned binder-coolant as is necessary to obtain the desired binding properties in the composition, without raising the flame temperature of the gas to an unacceptable level.
This pyrotechnic composition is adapted, upon combustion, for generating a low flame temperature, non-toxic gas for inflating a vehicle safety bag or other inflatable device.
The composition comprises: a fuel, such as a carbonaceous material, aluminum or magnesium, an inorganic oxidizer, such as a metal chlorates a metal perchlorate, a metal nitrate, ammonium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate or ammonium nitrate;
and a coolant or combined binder and coolant, such as magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide or a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. A typical example of this composition comprises: carbon as the fuel; potassium chlorate as the oxidizer; and magnesium carbonate or a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate as the binder-coolant. One may use as much of this later mentioned binder-coolant as is necessary to obtain the desired binding properties in the composition, without raising the flame temperature of the gas to an unacceptable level.
Description
~L~gL8Z72 LOW TEMP RAruRE GAS GENER~TOR PROPELLANT
BACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_ This invention relates to a pyrotechnic composition adapted, upon combustion, for gene.rati.ng gas. In particular, this invention relates to a pyrotechnic composition which, upon combustion, generates a low temperature, non-toxic gas. Among the uses for such a gas is to inflate a safety bag in a vehicle to restrain movement of an occupant in ~he vehicle in the event of collision, or in the case of slower burning mixtures, to be defined in one embodiment latex, producing gas with a relatively low temperature, the substantially non-toxic gas produced may be used to inflate life rafts, emergency airline slides, buoys, tires or other inflatable devices. ~ ;
; It is necessary that pyrotechnic compositions be able to meet certain criteria in order to be adapted for use with a vehicle safety air bag restraint or other such inflatable devices.
Ths pyrotechnic composition must be able to withstand storage in an environment from approximately -40F. to approximately +220F. For the vehicle safety air bag applications, it is ~:~
also necessary that the composition be capable of being ignited rapidly, for exampl~, within a matter of milliseconds, and that it be capable of being totally ignited to produce gas. In some other applications, a slow burn is not a disadvantage and a relatively cool gas is highly advantageous, as will be discussed.
It is necessary that the gas produced have only a negligible amount of toxic gases, such as nitrogen oxides or carbon monoxide.
Previously used pyrotechnic compositions normally include the use of an organic binder. The organic binder also acts as a fuel and tends to raise the ~lame temperature of the gas to an -unacceptable level. As a resul.t, the temperature of the outer surface of the vehicle safety bag or other inflatable device, using such prior art compositions, would be so high that it might burn the user. ....................................................... ~.
~"~ r ~
~8~72 This is understandable because the compositions using such binders were incended for applications such as high-energy propellants for rockets, where low temperature was not an ob-jective. See: U. S. Patents 2,929,697 to Perry and 2,994,598 to Dickey. In addition, many of the compositions disclosed in the prior art produce a toxic gas, such as some of the compo-sitions in U. S. Patents 3,020,180 to Morello and 3,047~524 to Bowman.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a pyrotechnic composition adapted, upon combustion, for generating a low temperature, substantially non-toxic gas, th-e- composition comprising: a fuel selected ~rom the group consisting of a carbonaceous material, aluminum and magnesium; an inorganic oxidizer selected ~rom the group consisting of a metal chlorate, a metal perchlorate, a metal nitrate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chlorate, and ammonium perchlorate; and a coolant selected from the group consisting of magnesium hydroxide and a mixture of magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. This gas is useful for inflating various devices, such as a safety bag in a vehicle.
A safety bag is inflated to restrain the movement of an occupant ~;;
of the vehicle in the event of collision. Where a composition producing a low temperature gas from a relatively slow burn is utilized, as will be discussed later, application to other already mentioned inflatable de~ices is advantageous. In general, the pyrotechnic composition comprises a fuel; an inorganic oxidizer;
and a coolant or combined binder and coolant (which also is re ferred to as just a coolant in the following description), which is selected from the group consisting of magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, and a mixture of magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide It has been found that one may use as much of t-he binder-coolant as i-s necessary in the pyrotechn}c compo-sition to obtain the desired binder properties for the composition ~ - 2 -- . . - . . :
: . . .- :
~48~7;~
without raising the flame temperature of the gas, generated upon combustion, -to an unacceptable level.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
-This pyrotechnic composition is adapted for generating a low temperature, non-toxic gas upon combustion for inflating a vehicle safety bag or other inflatable device. In general, the composition comprises: a fuel selected from the group con-sisting of a carbonaceous material (such as carbon, carbon black or lamp black), aluminum and magnesium; an inorganic oxidizer selected from ~e group consisting of an alkali metal chlorate, such as potassium chlorate or sodium chlorate, an alkali metal perchlorate, such as potassium perchlorate or sodium perchlorate, an alkali metal nitrate, such as potassium nitrate or sodium nitra~e, ammonium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate, and ammonium nitrate; and a coolant or combined binder and coolant selected from the group consisting of: magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and a mixture of magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. A typical formulation of this pyrotechnic composition comprises: carbon which acts as a fuel; potassium chlorate (KC10 or potassium perchlorate (KC104) which acts as an oxidizer; and a magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) and magnesium hydroxide (MgOH2) mix-ture which acts as a coolant and binder.
In the case of the composition of carbonaceous fuel, inorganic oxidi2er and magnesium carbonate coolant, a low temperature gas (about 800F in one embodiment) is generated relatively slowly (in, for example, about l~:;to 3 seconds) ~hich may be cooled, as by contact with a metal chip bed, to a !.
, . ,- . . ~ ,, ~ ~ ' ~. :: . . .. .
8~
temperature o f rrom 2û0F. to 600Fl., for inflal;ing an in~latable dev:lce such as a life raft, inflatable bwoy, tire, emergency slide, etc., which may then be in contact with the user.
The pyrotechnic composition of this invention comprises by weight: ~rom less than 1% to about 10% of one of the foregoing fue]s, such as carbon; from about 30% to about 70%
of one of the foregoing inorganic oxldizers, such as potassium chlorate; and from abouk 10% to about 60% of one Or the foregoing coolants or combined binders and coolants, such as magnesiurn carbonate or a mixture of magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide.
Preferably, in one embodiment, the pyrotechnic composikion comprises by weight: about 3% to about 7% of one of the foregoing fuels~ such as carbon; about 40% to about 60% of one o~ the foregoing inorganic oxidizers, such as potassium chlorate; and about 35% to about 55% o~ one of the foregoing combined binders and coolants, such as a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. Whem such compositions are burned in the presence of air, the magnesium hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air to form magnesium carbonate (MgCO3).
Magnesium carbonate is a highly oxygenated, cement-like material and, by itself, provides no binding properties. The conversion of magnesium hydroxide to magnesium carbonate provides the binding effect. Neither the magnesium hydroxide nor the magnesium carbonate acts as a fuel. Since magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate are both coolants, not fuels, one can use as much as necessary.
As a result, one has enough binder for the composition without raising the flame temperature of the gas to unacceptable levels.
The free oxygen formed from the inorganic oxidizer, such as potassium perchlorate, is consumed by the fuel, such as carbon, forming carbon dioxide and evolving heat which is cooled by the ~4~
magne~lum hy(lroxicle.
I~ thls last mentloned embodiment (in the precedin~
paragraph) lt ls preferable, in most instarlces 5 to start with a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate, rather than magnesium hydroxide without magnesium carbonate. One should use enough magnesium hydroxide in the mixture to obtain the desired bind:ing e~ect caused by the carbonation of the magnesium hydroxide. But~ one should use only enough magnesium hydroxide to obtain the necessary physical properties as a binder because in compositions using a mixture o~ ~agnesium ; hydroxide and magnesium carbonate~ lt has been ~ound that the higher the proportion of magnesium hydroxide to magnesium ~ -carbonate that is used in the composition, the longer the reaction ` time will take.
More specificalIy, in this last discussed embodiment, ; the magnesium hydroxide in the pyrotechnic composition should comprlse by weight not less than about 10% o~ the entire composition and pre~erably ~rom about 10% to about 30% o~ the entire composition. In instances where a mixture o~ magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate is used as the combined binder and coolant, the compositlon ma~y comprise: ~rom about 10% to about 30% magnesium hydroxide as compared to the entire composition and from about 20% to about 40% magnesium carbonate as compared to the entire compoæition. In many compositions it has been found advantageous ~or the mixture o~ magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate to comprise about 1/2 magnesium hydroxide and about 1/2 magnesium carbonate.
In the pre~erred embodiment previously mentioned (carbon ~uel, potassium chlorate or perchlorate oxidizer, and -magnesium carbonate coolant) where a relatively low burning composition produces a rela~ively low temperature gas (which may optionally be ~urther cooled as already discussed), it has been ~:
.: ., ,. .. ~ ,,, .. . . , -sur7prislngly found that the magneslurn carbonate burns ln the presence Or the oxldizer and the carbon fuel to support the combustlon at a very high temperatllre, but relatlvely slowly, wlth the magnesium carbonate decomposing to absorb the heat and produce the relatively low temperature gas product made up of, substantiallya carbon dioxide (C02) and oxygen, with trace amounts of carbon monoxlde (C0).
The following examples, ln whlch percent is by weight~
are provided for purposes of illustration.
~XAMPLE 1 The composltion used comprises: 5% carbon as the fuel, 50% potasslum chlorate as the inorganic oxidizer, and 45% of a mixture of magneslum hydroxide and magneslum carbonate as the binder-coolant. The proportlon of this mixture was approximately 1/2 magnesium hydroxide and 1/2 magnesium carbonate so that the magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate each formed 22 1/2% of the total composition.
The composition comprised: 5% carbon~ 50% potassium chlorate; and lJ5% magnesium hydroxide.
:
The composition comprised 5% carbon, 51% potassium chlorate;;and 44% magnesium hydroxide.
The composition comprised: 6% carbon; 50% potassium chlorate; and 44% magnesium hydroxide.
The compositions in the foregoing examples each produce a gas having a flame temperature from about 1500F. to less than 2000F.
3o .. .. . .. . . . . .
The pyIotec~lnlc composltlons above o~ this l~entlon achieve ~lexibillty in reference to the amount of binder which may be used, consistent with the ob~ect o~ producing a gas having a low-flame temperature and a negligible amount Or toxic gases, such as nitrogen oxides or carbon monoxide. ;~
XAMPL~ 5 The compositlon comprised: 3~ carbon as the fuel; 45%
potassium chlorate as the inorganic oxidizer; and 52% magnesium carbonate as the coolant.
It has been found useful in one embodiment to pelletize the pyrotechnic composition of this invention in order to achibve a predictable combustion performance of the compo-sition, ~ath~r than to use the composition in powder form. Pelletizing can be achieved by severely mixing the powdered ingredients and then using a pill press to produce pellets, or by granulating the powdered mixture, extruding it through a screen and forming noodles. Pelletizing has been found advantageous because of the following undesirable characteristics of a mixed powder. The powder bends to separate, with the oxidizer at the bottom and the fuel at the top. When the powder burns, it burns with different characteristics depending upon the degree to which the powder mixture is homogeneous. In addition, the powder may be loosely packed or it may become tightly packed which also affects its burning or combustion characteristics. The result is that inconsistent results are sometimes obtained when using the composition in powder form. Whem using the composition in pellet -~
form, more consistent results are generally produced. Optionally, an organic lubricant, such as stearic ac~d or Carbowax (a trade name of Union Carbide Corporation for polyethylene glycols)~ may be added to pelletizing.
BACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_ This invention relates to a pyrotechnic composition adapted, upon combustion, for gene.rati.ng gas. In particular, this invention relates to a pyrotechnic composition which, upon combustion, generates a low temperature, non-toxic gas. Among the uses for such a gas is to inflate a safety bag in a vehicle to restrain movement of an occupant in ~he vehicle in the event of collision, or in the case of slower burning mixtures, to be defined in one embodiment latex, producing gas with a relatively low temperature, the substantially non-toxic gas produced may be used to inflate life rafts, emergency airline slides, buoys, tires or other inflatable devices. ~ ;
; It is necessary that pyrotechnic compositions be able to meet certain criteria in order to be adapted for use with a vehicle safety air bag restraint or other such inflatable devices.
Ths pyrotechnic composition must be able to withstand storage in an environment from approximately -40F. to approximately +220F. For the vehicle safety air bag applications, it is ~:~
also necessary that the composition be capable of being ignited rapidly, for exampl~, within a matter of milliseconds, and that it be capable of being totally ignited to produce gas. In some other applications, a slow burn is not a disadvantage and a relatively cool gas is highly advantageous, as will be discussed.
It is necessary that the gas produced have only a negligible amount of toxic gases, such as nitrogen oxides or carbon monoxide.
Previously used pyrotechnic compositions normally include the use of an organic binder. The organic binder also acts as a fuel and tends to raise the ~lame temperature of the gas to an -unacceptable level. As a resul.t, the temperature of the outer surface of the vehicle safety bag or other inflatable device, using such prior art compositions, would be so high that it might burn the user. ....................................................... ~.
~"~ r ~
~8~72 This is understandable because the compositions using such binders were incended for applications such as high-energy propellants for rockets, where low temperature was not an ob-jective. See: U. S. Patents 2,929,697 to Perry and 2,994,598 to Dickey. In addition, many of the compositions disclosed in the prior art produce a toxic gas, such as some of the compo-sitions in U. S. Patents 3,020,180 to Morello and 3,047~524 to Bowman.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a pyrotechnic composition adapted, upon combustion, for generating a low temperature, substantially non-toxic gas, th-e- composition comprising: a fuel selected ~rom the group consisting of a carbonaceous material, aluminum and magnesium; an inorganic oxidizer selected ~rom the group consisting of a metal chlorate, a metal perchlorate, a metal nitrate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chlorate, and ammonium perchlorate; and a coolant selected from the group consisting of magnesium hydroxide and a mixture of magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. This gas is useful for inflating various devices, such as a safety bag in a vehicle.
A safety bag is inflated to restrain the movement of an occupant ~;;
of the vehicle in the event of collision. Where a composition producing a low temperature gas from a relatively slow burn is utilized, as will be discussed later, application to other already mentioned inflatable de~ices is advantageous. In general, the pyrotechnic composition comprises a fuel; an inorganic oxidizer;
and a coolant or combined binder and coolant (which also is re ferred to as just a coolant in the following description), which is selected from the group consisting of magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, and a mixture of magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide It has been found that one may use as much of t-he binder-coolant as i-s necessary in the pyrotechn}c compo-sition to obtain the desired binder properties for the composition ~ - 2 -- . . - . . :
: . . .- :
~48~7;~
without raising the flame temperature of the gas, generated upon combustion, -to an unacceptable level.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
-This pyrotechnic composition is adapted for generating a low temperature, non-toxic gas upon combustion for inflating a vehicle safety bag or other inflatable device. In general, the composition comprises: a fuel selected from the group con-sisting of a carbonaceous material (such as carbon, carbon black or lamp black), aluminum and magnesium; an inorganic oxidizer selected from ~e group consisting of an alkali metal chlorate, such as potassium chlorate or sodium chlorate, an alkali metal perchlorate, such as potassium perchlorate or sodium perchlorate, an alkali metal nitrate, such as potassium nitrate or sodium nitra~e, ammonium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate, and ammonium nitrate; and a coolant or combined binder and coolant selected from the group consisting of: magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and a mixture of magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. A typical formulation of this pyrotechnic composition comprises: carbon which acts as a fuel; potassium chlorate (KC10 or potassium perchlorate (KC104) which acts as an oxidizer; and a magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) and magnesium hydroxide (MgOH2) mix-ture which acts as a coolant and binder.
In the case of the composition of carbonaceous fuel, inorganic oxidi2er and magnesium carbonate coolant, a low temperature gas (about 800F in one embodiment) is generated relatively slowly (in, for example, about l~:;to 3 seconds) ~hich may be cooled, as by contact with a metal chip bed, to a !.
, . ,- . . ~ ,, ~ ~ ' ~. :: . . .. .
8~
temperature o f rrom 2û0F. to 600Fl., for inflal;ing an in~latable dev:lce such as a life raft, inflatable bwoy, tire, emergency slide, etc., which may then be in contact with the user.
The pyrotechnic composition of this invention comprises by weight: ~rom less than 1% to about 10% of one of the foregoing fue]s, such as carbon; from about 30% to about 70%
of one of the foregoing inorganic oxldizers, such as potassium chlorate; and from abouk 10% to about 60% of one Or the foregoing coolants or combined binders and coolants, such as magnesiurn carbonate or a mixture of magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide.
Preferably, in one embodiment, the pyrotechnic composikion comprises by weight: about 3% to about 7% of one of the foregoing fuels~ such as carbon; about 40% to about 60% of one o~ the foregoing inorganic oxidizers, such as potassium chlorate; and about 35% to about 55% o~ one of the foregoing combined binders and coolants, such as a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. Whem such compositions are burned in the presence of air, the magnesium hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air to form magnesium carbonate (MgCO3).
Magnesium carbonate is a highly oxygenated, cement-like material and, by itself, provides no binding properties. The conversion of magnesium hydroxide to magnesium carbonate provides the binding effect. Neither the magnesium hydroxide nor the magnesium carbonate acts as a fuel. Since magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate are both coolants, not fuels, one can use as much as necessary.
As a result, one has enough binder for the composition without raising the flame temperature of the gas to unacceptable levels.
The free oxygen formed from the inorganic oxidizer, such as potassium perchlorate, is consumed by the fuel, such as carbon, forming carbon dioxide and evolving heat which is cooled by the ~4~
magne~lum hy(lroxicle.
I~ thls last mentloned embodiment (in the precedin~
paragraph) lt ls preferable, in most instarlces 5 to start with a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate, rather than magnesium hydroxide without magnesium carbonate. One should use enough magnesium hydroxide in the mixture to obtain the desired bind:ing e~ect caused by the carbonation of the magnesium hydroxide. But~ one should use only enough magnesium hydroxide to obtain the necessary physical properties as a binder because in compositions using a mixture o~ ~agnesium ; hydroxide and magnesium carbonate~ lt has been ~ound that the higher the proportion of magnesium hydroxide to magnesium ~ -carbonate that is used in the composition, the longer the reaction ` time will take.
More specificalIy, in this last discussed embodiment, ; the magnesium hydroxide in the pyrotechnic composition should comprlse by weight not less than about 10% o~ the entire composition and pre~erably ~rom about 10% to about 30% o~ the entire composition. In instances where a mixture o~ magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate is used as the combined binder and coolant, the compositlon ma~y comprise: ~rom about 10% to about 30% magnesium hydroxide as compared to the entire composition and from about 20% to about 40% magnesium carbonate as compared to the entire compoæition. In many compositions it has been found advantageous ~or the mixture o~ magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate to comprise about 1/2 magnesium hydroxide and about 1/2 magnesium carbonate.
In the pre~erred embodiment previously mentioned (carbon ~uel, potassium chlorate or perchlorate oxidizer, and -magnesium carbonate coolant) where a relatively low burning composition produces a rela~ively low temperature gas (which may optionally be ~urther cooled as already discussed), it has been ~:
.: ., ,. .. ~ ,,, .. . . , -sur7prislngly found that the magneslurn carbonate burns ln the presence Or the oxldizer and the carbon fuel to support the combustlon at a very high temperatllre, but relatlvely slowly, wlth the magnesium carbonate decomposing to absorb the heat and produce the relatively low temperature gas product made up of, substantiallya carbon dioxide (C02) and oxygen, with trace amounts of carbon monoxlde (C0).
The following examples, ln whlch percent is by weight~
are provided for purposes of illustration.
~XAMPLE 1 The composltion used comprises: 5% carbon as the fuel, 50% potasslum chlorate as the inorganic oxidizer, and 45% of a mixture of magneslum hydroxide and magneslum carbonate as the binder-coolant. The proportlon of this mixture was approximately 1/2 magnesium hydroxide and 1/2 magnesium carbonate so that the magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate each formed 22 1/2% of the total composition.
The composition comprised: 5% carbon~ 50% potassium chlorate; and lJ5% magnesium hydroxide.
:
The composition comprised 5% carbon, 51% potassium chlorate;;and 44% magnesium hydroxide.
The composition comprised: 6% carbon; 50% potassium chlorate; and 44% magnesium hydroxide.
The compositions in the foregoing examples each produce a gas having a flame temperature from about 1500F. to less than 2000F.
3o .. .. . .. . . . . .
The pyIotec~lnlc composltlons above o~ this l~entlon achieve ~lexibillty in reference to the amount of binder which may be used, consistent with the ob~ect o~ producing a gas having a low-flame temperature and a negligible amount Or toxic gases, such as nitrogen oxides or carbon monoxide. ;~
XAMPL~ 5 The compositlon comprised: 3~ carbon as the fuel; 45%
potassium chlorate as the inorganic oxidizer; and 52% magnesium carbonate as the coolant.
It has been found useful in one embodiment to pelletize the pyrotechnic composition of this invention in order to achibve a predictable combustion performance of the compo-sition, ~ath~r than to use the composition in powder form. Pelletizing can be achieved by severely mixing the powdered ingredients and then using a pill press to produce pellets, or by granulating the powdered mixture, extruding it through a screen and forming noodles. Pelletizing has been found advantageous because of the following undesirable characteristics of a mixed powder. The powder bends to separate, with the oxidizer at the bottom and the fuel at the top. When the powder burns, it burns with different characteristics depending upon the degree to which the powder mixture is homogeneous. In addition, the powder may be loosely packed or it may become tightly packed which also affects its burning or combustion characteristics. The result is that inconsistent results are sometimes obtained when using the composition in powder form. Whem using the composition in pellet -~
form, more consistent results are generally produced. Optionally, an organic lubricant, such as stearic ac~d or Carbowax (a trade name of Union Carbide Corporation for polyethylene glycols)~ may be added to pelletizing.
Claims (7)
1. A pyrotechnic composition adapted, upon com-bustion, for generating a low temperature, substantially non-toxic gas, said composition comprising: a fuel selected from the group consisting of a carbonaceous material, aluminum and magnesium; an inorganic oxidizer selected from the group consisting of a metal chlorate, a metal perchlorate, a metal nitrate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chlorate, and ammonium perchlorate; and a coolant selected from the group consisting of magnesium hydroxide and a mixture of magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide.
2. The pyrotechnic composition according to claim 1 comprising by weight: about 1% to about 10% of said fuel;
about 30% to about 70% of said inorganic oxidizer; and about 10% to about 60% of said coolant.
about 30% to about 70% of said inorganic oxidizer; and about 10% to about 60% of said coolant.
3. The pyrotechnic composition according to claim 1 comprising by weight: about 3% to about 7% of said fuel;
about 40% to about 60% of said inorganic oxidizer; and about 35% to about 55% of said coolant.
about 40% to about 60% of said inorganic oxidizer; and about 35% to about 55% of said coolant.
4. The pyrotechnic composition according to claim 1 wherein said magnesium hydroxide comprises by weight about 10% to about 30% of the entire composition.
5. The pyrotechnic composition according to claim 1, wherein said coolant comprises about 10% to about 30%
magnesium hydroxide as compared to the entire composition and about 20% to about 40% magnesium carbonate as compared to the entire composition.
magnesium hydroxide as compared to the entire composition and about 20% to about 40% magnesium carbonate as compared to the entire composition.
6. The pyrotechnic composition according to claim 5 wherein said mixture of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate comprises about equal amounts of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate.
7. The composition according to claim 1 comprising by weight: 5% carbon, about 50% potassium chlorate; and about 45% of a mixture of about equal amounts of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US500810A US3912562A (en) | 1973-09-10 | 1974-08-26 | Low temperature gas generator propellant |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1048272A true CA1048272A (en) | 1979-02-13 |
Family
ID=23991039
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA75232055A Expired CA1048272A (en) | 1974-08-26 | 1975-07-23 | Low temperature gas generator propellant |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5152380A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1048272A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2536099A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2283108A1 (en) |
| SE (1) | SE7509194L (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE19643468A1 (en) * | 1996-10-22 | 1998-04-23 | Temic Bayern Chem Airbag Gmbh | Gas-generating, azide-free solid mixture |
| AU2012214899B2 (en) * | 2011-02-07 | 2016-10-27 | Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast- Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno | Chemical carbon dioxide gas generator |
| DE102011012895B4 (en) * | 2011-03-03 | 2017-09-21 | Diehl Defence Gmbh & Co. Kg | Active composition for a pyrotechnic gas generator |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH530947A (en) * | 1968-11-02 | 1972-11-30 | Dynamit Nobel Ag | Propellant for print cartridges |
| US3897285A (en) * | 1973-09-10 | 1975-07-29 | Allied Chem | Pyrotechnic formulation with free oxygen consumption |
-
1975
- 1975-07-23 CA CA75232055A patent/CA1048272A/en not_active Expired
- 1975-08-13 DE DE19752536099 patent/DE2536099A1/en active Pending
- 1975-08-18 SE SE7509194A patent/SE7509194L/en unknown
- 1975-08-25 JP JP50102837A patent/JPS5152380A/ja active Pending
- 1975-08-26 FR FR7526291A patent/FR2283108A1/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| SE7509194L (en) | 1976-02-27 |
| FR2283108A1 (en) | 1976-03-26 |
| DE2536099A1 (en) | 1976-03-25 |
| FR2283108B1 (en) | 1979-05-18 |
| JPS5152380A (en) | 1976-05-08 |
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