Metal oxide/azide gas generating compositions

Claim 1

A process for the preparation of a gas generating composition adapted on burning to form nitrogen gas and a solid residue in the form of a sintered mass, comprising the steps of - a) preparing a mixture consisting essentially of dry particles of nickel oxide or iron oxide and dry particles of alkali metal azide or alkaline earth metal azide in molar proportions adequate on burning to oxidize all the azide to nitrogen and form alkali metal oxide or alkaline earth metal oxide, b) adding sufficient fluid to the dry mixture to dissolve at least some of the azide and provide a mixture of granulating consistency, c) mixing the fluid-containing mixture to form a plastic-like blend, d) forcing the plastic-like blend through a perforated plate, screen or die, thus forming wet granules, e) drying the wet granules, and f) screening the dried granules to separate and retain for use groups of particles having a narrow particle size distribution, the resultant product producing upon burning a residue in the form of an easily filterable sintered mass.