NON-AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED GENERANTS

1 . An airbag gas generant formulation optimized for hybrid airbag inflators, the formulation comprising:

40 wt % to 50 wt % strontium nitrate;

35 wt % to 45 wt % nitroguanidine;

3 wt % to 7 wt % potassium perchlorate;

3 wt % to 6 wt % w/w polyvinyl alcohol; and

2 wt % to 6 wt % w/w strontium oxalate.

2 . The airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 which has at least one property selected from the group consisting of:

a gas yield of greater than 1.57 grams of per cubic centimeter (g/cc);

a constant volume flame temperature of 2700° K to 2800° K; and

an overall oxygen balance of the formulation −2% to +2%.

3 . The airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 , wherein the formulation comprises

48.2 wt % strontium nitrate;

36.8 wt % nitroguanidine;

5 wt % potassium perchlorate;

5 wt % strontium oxalate; and

5 wt % polyvinyl alcohol.

4 . The airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 , wherein the formulation further comprises

1 wt % to 5 wt % cupric oxide as a burning rate modifier.

5 . The airbag gas generant formulation of claim 4 wherein the formulation is

44.1 wt % strontium nitrate;

39.9 wt % nitroguanidine;

5 wt % potassium perchlorate;

4 wt % strontium oxalate;

4 wt % polyvinyl alcohol; and

3 wt % cupric oxide.

6 . The airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 which further comprises

2 wt % to 6 wt % Kaolin for slag formation and as a coolant.

7 . The airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 which further comprises

2 wt % to 6 wt % aluminum oxide for slag formation and as a coolant.

8 . The airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 which further comprises

2 wt % to 6 wt % silicon dioxide for slag formation and as a coolant.

9 . The airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 which further comprises 2 wt % to 6% wt % of at least one selected from the group consisting of:

kaolin;

aluminum oxide; and

silicon dioxide.

10 . The airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 which does not contain oxygen as a stored gas.

11 . An inflator for an airbag comprising the airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 wherein the inflator does not contain oxygen as a stored gas.

12 . A method for inflating an airbag comprising the steps of

igniting the airbag gas generant formulation of claim 1 to generate a gas; and

inflating the airbag with the gas.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the igniting step does not involve igniting oxygen as a stored gas.