Gas Generating Mixture

The invention relates to a gas generating mixture of a high nitrogen and low carbon fuel from the group nitroguanidine (NIGU), triaminoguanidine nitrate (TAGN), diguanidinium-5,5'azotetrazolate (GZT) and 3-nitro-1,2,3-triazol-5-one (NTO), catalysts, oxidizers and optionally coolants.

Gas generating mixtures of the aforementioned type, also known as gas generator sets, are characterized in that during combustion they allow a high gas output (14 mole/kg). They are used for inflatable retaining (airbag) and rescue systems, fire extinguishing equipment and for insensitive solid fuels for rocket and tubular weapon drives. Particularly in the civil sector it is also necessary to have thermomechanical insensitivity and non-toxicity on the part of the starting mixtures, as well as a lack of toxicity in the resulting gases. Many systems in use do not or only very inadequately fulfil these requirements.

In airbag systems initially gas generating mixtures based on sodium azide were used and tested, but due to toxicity and the resulting solid particles has proved to be problematical. Similar problems have arisen with so-called hybrid gas generators, where use is made of nitramines or perchlorates.

Considerable efforts have been made to in particular provide non-toxic starting compounds. These more particularly include high nitrogen and low carbon fuels, such as TAGN, NIGU and NTO. Particularly good results have been obtained with diguanidium-5,5'-azotetrazolate (GZT) (DE 41 08 225). Both the starting mixture and also the resulting gases are largely non-toxic and mainly consist of nitrogen. However, it is disadvantageous that NO.sub.x unavoidably forms and the burning behaviour is not always satisfactory. Many reaction mixtures have such a high combustion temperature that when used in airbag systems the thermally sensitive bag materials are damaged.

The problem of the invention is to propose a gas generating mixture which, like its combustion products, suffers from no toxicity and in particular has a low CO and NO.sub.x toxic gas content and which with a low combustion temperature still have a high burning rate.

According to the invention this problem is solved in that the oxidizer is copper diammine dinitrate Cu(NH.sub.3).sub.2 (NO.sub.3).sub.2 and the catalyst comprises a pyrophoric metal or such a metal alloy on a carrier.

Through the use of copper diammine dinitrate as the oxidizer the burning behaviour of the reaction mixture can be adjusted within wide limits. A high burning rate is obtained, so that the maximum pressure builds up within a few milliseconds, although the burning temperature is relatively low, so that particularly in airbag systems the thermally sensitive bag materials are not endangered.

The catalyst system comprises the active main component, for which a pyrophoric metal or alloy is used, and a suitable carrier having further properties. The complex action relationship of this system makes it necessary to more precisely describe the terms "catalyst" and "carrier". Both terms are used in a widened sense. In the present context a "catalyst" is an active reaction component, which can itself be reacted and acts in a reaction controlling and/or reaction accelerating manner. The active main component of the catalyst is the pyrophoric metal or alloy used. The carrier serves to provide the main component with a large specific surface and a clearly defined particle size distribution. A further property of the carrier is that by physical and/or chemical processes, in a specific phase of the reaction, it evolves a cooling action, which extends beyond a purely capacitive cooling action. The carrier can also act as a promoter for the main component.

The catalyst system and oxidizer fulfil the thermomechanical stability requirements and are in particular non-hygroscopic, which guarantees a permanent functional efficiency and long life.

A preferred mixture comprises the fuel GZT and the oxidizer Gu(NH.sub.3).sub.2 (NO.sub.3).sub.2 with an equilibrated oxygen balance with a weight ratio of 21.6:78.4. As a function of the burning and gas purity requirements, into the system are homogeneously incorporated up to 30 wt. % of the catalyst. The main component of the catalyst is preferably pyrophoric Ag with an average particle size of <25 pm. A schist silicate is preferred as the carrier material. Finally, it is also possible to add a coolant, preferably Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3.

A mixture is prepared of GZT and the oxidizer Cu(NH.sub.3).sub.2 (NO.sub.3).sub.2 in a weight ratio of 21.6:78.4 and up to 30 wt. % of the Ag catalyst is homogeneously incorporated onto a schist silicate carrier.

Formulations of this type are characterized with respect to their ignition and combustion behaviour with the aid of experiments in the ballistic bomb and for this purpose a pressure/time diagram is established. It can be gathered from the attached diagram that the reaction mixtures have good ignition and combustion properties. For a loading density of 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 there is a maximum pressure of 74,9 MPa, which is reached after approximately 13 ms (t(pmax)=13 ms). The pressure rise time between 30 and 80% of the maximum pressure is 0.96 ms (t.sub.30-80 =0.96 ms).