Gas generant compositions methods of production of the same and devices

Abstract

Gas generant compositions are disclosed that generally include an a fuel source including a compound having a fuel portion and a fuel oxidizing portion, a fuel oxidizer, and a borohydride catalyst of the oxidation of said fuel portion by said fuel oxidizing portion and said fuel oxidizer to produce gaseous reaction products. In preferred compositions the fuel source is comprised of the elements nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and water and combusted to produce N.sub.2, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O as the primary reaction products. Preferably, the fuel oxidizer is a metal nitrate, and particularly potassium nitrate, because the potassium will generally be included in solid products and not in the form of a potentially harmful gas. It is also preferred that the combustion reaction be catalyzed using borohydrides. Potassium borohydrides, such as K.sub.2 B.sub.12 H.sub.12 and K.sub.2 B.sub.10 H.sub.10, are particularly preferred. In addition, binding materials, and dry lubricants or processing aids are included, when compositions are used in pellet or tablet form. The compositions detailed in this invention react at relatively high rates and they produce large quantities of gas within fractions of seconds. In addition, these compositions produce only small amounts of slag which are readily filterable. The gases produced are then available to perform a work function in automotive safety restraint systems such as seat belt pretensioners and automobile air bag inflators, as well as in other inflatable device applications, such as lifesaving buoying devices, life rafts and aircraft slides.