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US4981536A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Stabilized propellant composition for the generation of nontoxic propellant gases

Assignee: Dynamit Nobel AG
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Filing: 1989-12-19
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Granted: 1991-01-01
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Expires: 2009-12-19
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention concerns propellant compositions for the generation of nontoxic gases which are utilized, for example, in airbag generators. These compositions contain, as a gas-yielding component, at least one alkali azide. According to the invention, the compositions are stabilized against the effects of moisture and carbon dioxide by the addition of talc and/or magnesium oxide. These additives are included in amounts of from 3 to 10% by weight. The additive acts so that the propellant compositions do not release hydrazoic acid even under the action of moisture and/or carbon dioxide.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard Bender

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 21:13
CPC Classifications
C; C06; C06D; C06D5/00; C06D5/06; C06B; C06B35/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
A propellant composition for generating nontoxic propellant gases wherein hydrazoic acid is not released, which comprises an alkali azide, an inorganic oxidizing agent, and as the stabilizer for preventing release of hydrazoic acid upon exposure of the composition to humid and carbon dioxide-containing atmosphere, magnesium oxide and/or talc in amounts of between 3 and 10% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition; said talc having a MgO content of between 26% and 31.6% by weight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 78 words
A propellant composition for generating nontoxic propellant gases wherein hydrazoic acid is not released, which comprises an alkali azide, an inorganic oxidizing agent, and as the stabilizer for preventing release of hydrazoic acid upon exposure of the composition to humid and carbon dioxide-containing atmosphere, magnesium oxide and/or talc in amounts of between 3 and 10% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition; said talc having a MgO content of between 26% and 31.6% by weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
A propellant composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition contains a mixture of the magnesium oxide and talc in which the ratio of talc:magnesium oxide ranges from 10:1 to 1.3:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
A propellant composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition contains, besides an alkali azide and an inorganic oxidizing agent, additional finely dispersed silicon dioxide or another compound leading to the formation of vitreous melts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
A propellant composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition contains, besides an alkali azide and an inorganic oxidizing agent, additional finely dispersed silicon dioxide or another compound leading to the formation of vitreous melts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
A propellant composition according to claim 4, wherein the composition contains 50 to 60% by weight of an alkali azide, 10 to 30% by weight of an oxidizing agent and up to 20% by weight of the compound leading to the formation of vitreous melts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
A propellant composition according to claim 5, wherein the alkali azide is sodium azide; the oxidizing agent is potassium nitrate; and the compound leading to the formation of vitreous melts is pyrogenic silicic acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 84 words
A propellant composition according to claim 1, wherein the talc is a mineral represented by the formula: 3MgO·4SiO 2 ·H 2 O wherein portions of the MgO can be replaced with calcium oxide, Al 2 O 3 and Fe 2 O 3 ; the proportions of Al 2 O 3 can be up to 4% by weight, the proportions of calcium oxide can be up to 6% by weight, and the proportions of Fe 2 O 3 can be up to 2% by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 45 words
A propellant composition according to claim 3, wherein the composition contains 50 to 60% by weight of an alkali azide, 10 to 30% by weight of an oxidizing agent and up to 20% by weight of the compound leading to the formation of vitreous melts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 34 words
A propellant composition according to claim 8, wherein the alkaline azide is sodium azide; the oxidizing agent is potassium nitrate; and the compound leading to the formation of vitreous melts is pyrogenic silicic acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
A propellant composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains as a stabilizer, magnesium oxide and/or talc in amounts of from 5 to 8% by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
A propellant composition according to claim 1, wherein the stabilizer consists of a mixture of magnesium oxide and talc.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 83 words
A propellant according to claim 11, wherein the talc is a mineral represented by the formula: 3MgO·4SiO 2 ·H 2 O, wherein portions of the MgO can be replaced with calcium oxide, Al 2 O 3 and Fe 2 O 3 ; the proportions of Al 2 O 3 can be up to 4% by weight, the proportions of calcium oxide can be up to 6% by weight, and the proportions of Fe 2 O 3 can be up to 2% by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 29 words
A propellant composition according to claim 12, wherein said composition contains the mixture of magnesium oxide and talc in a ratio of talc:magnesium oxide ranging from 10:1 to 1.3:1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
A propellant composition according to claim 1, wherein the stabilizer consists of magnesium oxide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
A propellant composition according to claim 1, wherein the stabilizer consists of talc.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 84 words
A propellant composition according to claim 14, wherein the talc is a mineral represented by the formula: 3MgO·4SiO 2 ·H 2 O wherein portions of the MgO can be replaced with calcium oxide, Al 2 O 3 and Fe 2 O 3 ; the proportions of Al 2 O 3 can be up to 4% by weight, the proportions of calcium oxide can be up to 6% by weight, and the proportions of Fe 2 O 3 can be up to 2% by weight.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3920575A Cited
US3936330A Cited
US4021275A Cited
US4734141A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-12-31 1994-07-02 1995-01-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-12-31 1998-07-02 1999-01-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-12-31 2002-07-02 2003-01-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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