A gas generant composition for an automotive inflatable restraint system is provided with a fuel having a thermally stable crystalline hydrate compound with a water release temperature of greater than or equal to about 140 C. The thermally stable crystalline hydrate compound serves as a ballistic modifier, which can serve to increase burn rate, reduce pressure sensitivity, reduce temperature sensitivity, and the like. The thermally stable crystalline hydrate compound may be selected from the group consisting of: a copper phthalate hydrate, copper pyromellitate dihydrate, copper fumarate dihydrate, copper (3-nitrophthalate) dihydrate, and combinations thereof.

A gas generant composition for passive inflatable restraint systems (e.g., airbags) for automobiles is provided that comprises a melamine oxalate compound. The gas generant may be a cool burning gas generant composition that comprises a melamine oxalate compound, a co-fuel, such as guanidine nitrate, and an oxidizer, such as basic copper nitrate. The gas generant composition has advantageous combustion properties, including a maximum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c) of about 1700 K (1,427 C.), a linear burn rate of about 18 mm per second at a pressure of about 10 megapascals (MPa), a gas yield of the gas generant composition of about 5.7 moles/100 cm.sup.3, and a linear burn rate pressure exponent of about 0.35.

Cool burning hydrate fuels are provided for gas generant compositions for automotive inflatable restraint systems. The cool burning hydrate fuel is a compound comprising carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, a transition metal, and optionally nitrogen. The cool burning hydrate fuel is a transition metal salt of an organic compound or transition metal complex salt having (i) at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of: amide, imide, hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, and combinations thereof, (ii) an oxygen-to-carbon mole ratio of greater than or equal to about 0.5, (iii) at least one-half a water molecule of hydration, and (iv) an exothermic heat of formation of at least about 400 KJ/mole. The fuel may have a water release temperature of about 140 C. The cool burning hydrate fuel may be one or more of copper cyanurate dihydrate, a copper melamine oxalate dihydrate, and a copper malonate hydrate.

Cool burning hydrate fuels are provided for gas generant compositions for automotive inflatable restraint systems. The cool burning hydrate fuel is a compound comprising carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, a transition metal, and optionally nitrogen. The cool burning hydrate fuel is a transition metal salt of an organic compound or transition metal complex salt having (i) at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of: amide, imide, hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, and combinations thereof, (ii) an oxygen-to-carbon mole ratio of greater than or equal to about 0.5, (iii) at least one-half a water molecule of hydration, and (iv) an exothermic heat of formation of at least about 400 KJ/mole. The fuel may have a water release temperature of about 140 C. The cool burning hydrate fuel may be one or more of copper cyanurate dihydrate, a copper melamine oxalate dihydrate, and a copper malonate hydrate.

The present invention is directed to a novel, low-toxicity red smoke generating composition and a method of making the same, comprising at least one red dye, a coolant, an oxidizer, a non-sugar binder, and a non-sulfur particulate fuel that is also a burn-control agent having at least one particle size distribution. Preferably, the red dye comprises an anthracene or anthraquinone-based dye and the fuel comprises a sugar or mixture of sugars.

The present invention is directed to a novel, low-toxicity red smoke generating composition and a method of making the same, comprising at least one red dye, a coolant, an oxidizer, a non-sugar binder, and a non-sulfur particulate fuel that is also a burn-control agent having at least one particle size distribution. Preferably, the red dye comprises an anthracene or anthraquinone-based dye and the fuel comprises a sugar or mixture of sugars.

A multispectral smoke obscurant composition effective in reducing transmittance in the visual, infrared, and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, comprising at least one metal organic framework (MOF), at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of binders, coolants, and accelerants. The MOF or MOF composite is present from about 10 to 90 weight percent of the smoke obscurant composition, while the fuel and the oxidizer in combination comprise about at least 10 weight percent of the smoke obscurant composition.

A multispectral smoke obscurant composition effective in reducing transmittance in the visual, infrared, and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, comprising at least one metal organic framework (MOF), at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, and optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of binders, coolants, and accelerants. The MOF or MOF composite is present from about 10 to 90 weight percent of the smoke obscurant composition, while the fuel and the oxidizer in combination comprise about at least 10 weight percent of the smoke obscurant composition.

Gas generants comprising copper are provided that have improved slagging ability. In certain aspects, the gas generants include a fuel, an oxidizer comprising basic copper nitrate, and a large particle size endothermic slag-forming component, such as aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3). The gas generants may be cool burning, e.g., having a maximum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c)about 1,900K (1,627 C.). The disclosure also provides methods of enhancing slag formation for a gas generant composition that comprises copper. Such methods enhance slag formation during combustion of the gas generant composition by at least 50%.

Gas generants comprising copper are provided that have improved slagging ability. In certain aspects, the gas generants include a fuel, an oxidizer comprising basic copper nitrate, and a large particle size endothermic slag-forming component, such as aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3). The gas generants may be cool burning, e.g., having a maximum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c)about 1,900K (1,627 C.). The disclosure also provides methods of enhancing slag formation for a gas generant composition that comprises copper. Such methods enhance slag formation during combustion of the gas generant composition by at least 50%.