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 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-generating pyrotechnic composition has a high gas yield while having reduced generation of condensable species and a limited combustion temperature.

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.

A chemical carbon dioxide gas generator comprising: a charge housing; a carbon dioxide gas penetrable charge, contained in the said housing, the charge comprising a) 40-60 wt. % of a substance which upon decomposition generates carbon dioxide, which substance is selected from the group of magnesium carbonate, other carbonates, magnesium oxalate and other oxalates, b) 20-50 wt. % of an oxidiser selected from the group of sodium chlorate, potassium chlorate, lithium chlorate, other metal chlorates, sodium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, lithium perchlorate, and other metal perchlorates, c) 1-20 wt. % of carbon or another fuel, d) 1-10 wt. % binder, said components a), b), c) and d) together forming 90-100 wt. % of the total weight of the charge; an ignition device for igniting the charge; a carbon dioxide gas treatment unit for reducing the content of one or more side-products—which may have been formed by the charge—in the generated carbon dioxide, and/or for cooling carbon dioxide gas generated by the charge; and an outlet for carbon dioxide gas generated by the charge.

A chemical carbon dioxide gas generator comprising: a charge housing; a carbon dioxide gas penetrable charge, contained in the said housing, the charge comprising a) 40-60 wt. % of a substance which upon decomposition generates carbon dioxide, which substance is selected from the group of magnesium carbonate, other carbonates, magnesium oxalate and other oxalates, b) 20-50 wt. % of an oxidiser selected from the group of sodium chlorate, potassium chlorate, lithium chlorate, other metal chlorates, sodium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, lithium perchlorate, and other metal perchlorates, c) 1-20 wt. % of carbon or another fuel, d) 1-10 wt. % binder, said components a), b), c) and d) together forming 90-100 wt. % of the total weight of the charge; an ignition device for igniting the charge; a carbon dioxide gas treatment unit for reducing the content of one or more side-products—which may have been formed by the charge—in the generated carbon dioxide, and/or for cooling carbon dioxide gas generated by the charge; and an outlet for carbon dioxide gas generated by the charge.

An obscurant-emitting composition may comprise an oxidizer comprising a cation comprising at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and an anion comprising at least one of nitrate, chlorate, bromate, iodate, perchlorate, periodate, or chlorite; a fuel; and a hydrated salt composition, wherein the obscurant-emitting composition comprises between 0.001% and 8% by weight hydrated salt composition.

An obscurant-emitting composition may comprise an oxidizer comprising a cation comprising at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and an anion comprising at least one of nitrate, chlorate, bromate, iodate, perchlorate, periodate, or chlorite; a fuel; and a hydrated salt composition, wherein the obscurant-emitting composition comprises between 0.001% and 8% by weight hydrated salt composition.

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.