USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Christine Marie Walsh

Charles Stanley Leveritt

Christine Dianne Knott

The present invention comprises an additive to a propelling charge that greatly reduces barrel erosion when used in a gun system compared to the current additives noted above. The invention provides both a high nitrogen to carbon monoxide ratio in the combustion products of the propelling charge in conjunction with a reduced flame temperature which both work to reduce gun-barrel erosion.

Reduced erosion additive for a propelling charge

The present invention is a propellant used to inflate an airbag in vehicle safety systems comprising from about 70 weight percent to about 82 weight percent Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), from about 10 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of a polymer binder, from about 6 weight percent to about 9 weight percent of an inert plasticizer, from about 2 weight percent to about 4 weight percent of Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, from about 0.5 weight percent to about 1 weight percent of a polymeric processing aid; and, from about 0.3 weight percent to about 0.5 weight percent of a material that acts as a stabilizer and anti-oxidant. The present invention is designed to have a long shelf life, high resistance to performance degradation after thermal aging testing and excellent physical properties such as excellent strength, insensitivity, and safety.

Airbag propellant

A plasticizer-free propellant for inflating passenger airbags in vehicles mprising from about 78 to about 90 weight percent of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and from about 10 to about 22 weight percent of a plasticizer-free polymer binder formed by curing a mixture of a polyoctenamer and a polymer comprising an acrylate polymer or a methacrylate polymer having a glass transition temperature of -30.degree. C. or lower and 0.01 to 5 weight percent based on the total amount of the monomers, of a crosslinking monomer having two or more double bonds of substantially the same reactivity in the molecule or one double bond and a crosslinking functional group such as an epoxide ring, a hydroxyl group, or a carbonyl group. This propellant is useful in hybrid inflators for air/safety bags in vehicles.

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Waldorf, MD, United States of America

Christine Marie Walsh