A gas generant composition for an automotive inflatable restraint system includes one or more: fuels, such as guanidine nitrate; oxidizers, such as basic copper nitrate; and an alkaline earth zirconium oxide. The gas generant composition is substantially free of potassium perchlorate. The alkaline earth zirconium oxide may be barium zirconate (BaZrO.sub.3), calcium zirconate (CaZrO.sub.3), and/or strontium zirconate (SrZrO.sub.3). The alkaline earth zirconium oxide may be present at about 0.1% by mass to about 6% by mass of the gas generant composition. Such gas generants may be cool burning (e.g., a maximum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c) of about 1700K (1,427 C.)), have a linear burn rate of about 20 mm per second at a pressure of about 21 MPa and a linear burn rate pressure exponent (n) of about 0.35. Method of making such gas generants are also provided.

A gas generator 10 includes a composition that contains a nonmetal perchlorate such as ammonium perchlorate as a first oxidizer, a secondary metal nitrate oxidizer such as strontium nitrate or sodium nitrate, a first fuel such as maleic hydrazide and salts thereof, and a second nitrogen-containing fuel such as nitroguanidine or guanidine nitrate. Gas generating systems 180 such as vehicle occupant protection systems 180, containing the gas generator 10, are also provided.

A gas generator 10 includes a composition that contains a nonmetal perchlorate such as ammonium perchlorate as a first oxidizer, a secondary metal nitrate oxidizer such as strontium nitrate or sodium nitrate, a first fuel such as maleic hydrazide and salts thereof, and a second nitrogen-containing fuel such as nitroguanidine or guanidine nitrate. Gas generating systems 180 such as vehicle occupant protection systems 180, containing the gas generator 10, are also provided.

Cool burning gas generant compositions for an automotive inflatable restraint system are provided that include a bismuth-containing compound selected from the group consisting of: bismuth citrate, bismuth subsalicylate, bismuth hydroxide, copper bismuth hydroxy nitrate, bismuth subcarbonate, bismuth suboxalate, and combinations thereof. The gas generant comprises at least one copper-containing component. The gas generant includes at least one oxidizer, fuel, and optional coolant. The maximum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c) of less than or equal to about 1700K (1,427 C.). The cool burning gas generant composition generates liquid phase combustion products making it suitable for use in a filterless inflatable restraint system. Copper and bismuth present in the cool burning gas generant composition react to form an alloy having a melting point at or near the maximum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c).

Cool burning gas generant compositions for an automotive inflatable restraint system are provided that include a bismuth-containing compound selected from the group consisting of: bismuth citrate, bismuth subsalicylate, bismuth hydroxide, copper bismuth hydroxy nitrate, bismuth subcarbonate, bismuth suboxalate, and combinations thereof. The gas generant comprises at least one copper-containing component. The gas generant includes at least one oxidizer, fuel, and optional coolant. The maximum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c) of less than or equal to about 1700K (1,427 C.). The cool burning gas generant composition generates liquid phase combustion products making it suitable for use in a filterless inflatable restraint system. Copper and bismuth present in the cool burning gas generant composition react to form an alloy having a melting point at or near the maximum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c).

A low-smoke, pyrotechnic composition is provided. The composition may include Ceric Ammonium Nitrate as an oxidizer, a fuel source, stabilizer, and a binder. The use of Ceric Ammonium Nitrate as an oxidizing agent within the composition can result in reducing the amount of smoke generated during combustion of the composition, which may be beneficial for certain pyrotechnic applications. In certain constructions, the composition may include Ceric Ammonium Nitrate as an oxidizer, Nitrocellulose and Titanium as fuel sources, Cyanoguanidine as a stabilizer, Cupric Oxide as a burn rate catalyst, and any suitable binder agent. The amount of Ceric Ammonium Nitrate by percent weight of the composition may range between 20-80 percent, 30-40 percent, or 30.0-37.5 percent. In certain configurations, the amount of Ceric Ammonium Nitrate may be about 36.7 percent by weight.

The present invention relates to a water-based non-sensitized matrix or explosive suspension which itself has a rheological behavior such that it allows mechanically loading upward boreholes. This suspension behaves like a viscous liquid when it is forced to flow due to the action of a loading pump, and, however, has the characteristics of a soft solid when it is on standby once inside the borehole. The composition essentially consists of an aqueous solution of oxidizing salts and optionally water-soluble fuels and/or sensitizers, and one or more water-soluble polymers conferring the desired rheological characteristics. Particles of oxidizing salts with a grain size such that they enhance the rheological behavior characteristic of the suspension are dispersed in this aqueous solution.

Explosive compositions including coated urea and an explosive including ammonium nitrate and fuel oil are provided. The explosive compositions can generate reduced levels of nitrogen oxide upon detonation. Methods of loading a blasthole with the explosive compositions and methods of reducing post-blast nitrogen oxide are also provided.

A non-detonable shaped charge capable of becoming detonable upon activation. The shaped charge may be utilized for use with a perforating gun in oilfield applications. In this regard, during transport and other handling in advance of reaching the application site, the charge may be non-detonable. However, upon an intentionally directed activation, such as through heating, the shaped charge may be detonable.

Gas-generating pyrotechnic solid objects, the composition of which, free of binder and of explosive ingredient, expressed as weight percentages, contains from 35 to 50%, advantageously from 40 to 50%, of guanidine nitrate, from 35 to 50% of basic copper nitrate, from 0.5 to 6% of at least one compound chosen from alumina and inorganic titanates, the melting point of which is above 2100 K, and from 5 to 18% of at least one inorganic oxalate, chosen from sodium oxalate, tin oxalate, strontium oxalate, iron oxalate, copper oxalate and mixtures thereof.