Societe Nationale Des Poudres Et Explosifs

Jean S Beaumont

Bernard J Doin

Bernard E Plantif

A process for the rapid production of a substantial volume of non-toxic gas at a moderate temperature, comprises: A. effecting combustion of a pyrotechnic charge consisting of a composite solid propellant having a high content of inorganic oxidant, in excess of 80 percent and a low content of a carbonaceous, non-nitrogenous binder, not in excess of 17 percent in a combustion chamber to produce a substantial volume of combustion gases at an elevated temperature B. a first cooling phase in which the hot combustion gases are diluted with oxygen obtained by the thermal decomposition of an oxygen-containing inorganic compound which has a low thermal stability and liberates, in gaseous form, only oxygen, whereby the combustion gases are cooled to a temperature of from 225.degree. to 700.degree.C, and C. a second cooling phase in which the gas mixture from the first cooling phase is cooled by contact with cooling means to the temperature of utilization. The gas mixture so produced is used, for example, for the inflation of flexible enclosures and for the deployment of inflatable safety devices, such as in automobiles.

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Saint-Medard-en-Jalles, France

Jean S Beaumont