Gas-Generating Composition for Temperature-Stable Airbag Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas generators for airbag apparatuses face challenges in maintaining stable output due to ambient temperature fluctuations, with previous solutions either increasing the generator's size or failing to actively stabilize the combustion performance.

Innovation Solution

A gas generating composition comprising 15% to 25% melamine cyanurate and 75% to 85% nitroguanidine as fuel, combined with 60% to 70% basic copper nitrate and 30% to 40% basic copper carbonate as oxidizing agents, which maintains a combustion temperature within 10 K of copper's melting point and ensures a temperature difference of less than 125 K across the ambient temperature range of -40°C to 85°C.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the gas generator uses conventional gas generating compositions, then the output fluctuates with ambient temperature changes, but if the generator size is increased to stabilize output, then the device complexity and volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput stabilityVSAvoidgenerator volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the gas generating agent by using specific ratios of fuel (melamine cyanurate and nitroguanidine) and oxidizing agent (basic copper nitrate and basic copper carbonate), and by controlling the combustion temperature to match the melting point of copper, thereby stabilizing the gas generation output across different ambient temperatures without increasing generator volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite gas generating composition consisting of multiple components: fuel (melamine cyanurate and nitroguanidine), oxidizing agent (basic copper nitrate and basic copper carbonate), and binder (carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt). This composite formulation enables stable combustion characteristics and consistent gas output across varying ambient temperatures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If the combustion temperature is increased to improve gas generation speed, then the temperature control precision decreases and output stability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas generation speedVSAvoidtemperature control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of copper from solid to liquid at its melting point (1358 K) as a natural temperature regulator. By designing the combustion temperature to coincide with copper's melting point, the system automatically maintains stable temperature during combustion, ensuring both rapid gas generation and precise temperature control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The copper component in the composition serves a dual function: as a structural/material component and as a self-regulating temperature control mechanism. The combustion temperature naturally stabilizes at copper's melting point, providing self-regulation without external control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This composition ensures stable combustion performance and output across varying ambient temperatures, preventing temperature rises during combustion and maintaining consistent ignition and pressure, thus addressing the instability issues in previous gas generator technologies.

Implementation Method 1

when ignited for combustion at an ambient temperature within a range of -40°C to 85°C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

the combustion temperature is the melting point of a substance included in the combustion residue

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExothermic reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Implementation Method 3

the combustion temperature is the melting point of a substance included in the combustion residue

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 4

the combustion temperature is the melting point of a substance included in the combustion residue

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP2910537B1Gas-generating-agent composition
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 DAICEL CORP
  • EP2910537B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

Provided is a gas generating composition which can maintain stable combustion performance even under variation of ambient temperature. The gas generating composition includes (a) a fuel and (b) an oxidizing agent and meets the following requirements (I) and (II): (I) a combustion temperature at a time of ignition and combustion at any ambient temperature within a range of -40°C to 85°C is a melting point of a substance included in a combustion residue; and (II) a difference between combustion temperatures at the time of ignition and combustion at ambient temperatures of -40°C and 85°C is less than 125 K.