What explosives are used in modern airbags?

[Adam Freeman]

Anyone know what explosives are used in modern airbags?

I know sodium azide was used originally but it seems to have fallen
out of favour due to its instability and toxicity. A bit of searching
said argon or helium are used; are these just basically contained in a
bottle that is ruptured by explosive charges?

Are conventional gas generating propellants (e.g metallised ammonium
nitrate) not used because they produce too hot exhaust gases and would
melt the bag/burn the users face?

[Don T]

Dunno if they are in use yet but this article:

http://www.lanl.gov:80/quarterly/q_sum03/explosives.shtml

mentions bag inflation substitute charges.
--
Don Thompson

Stolen from Dan: "Just thinking, besides, I watched 2 dogs mating once,
and that makes me an expert. "

There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance.
~Goethe

It is a worthy thing to fight for one's freedom;
it is another sight finer to fight for another man's.
~Mark Twain

Post by Adam Freeman
Anyone know what explosives are used in modern airbags?
I know sodium azide was used originally but it seems to have fallen
out of favour due to its instability and toxicity. A bit of searching
said argon or helium are used; are these just basically contained in a
bottle that is ruptured by explosive charges?
Are conventional gas generating propellants (e.g metallised ammonium
nitrate) not used because they produce too hot exhaust gases and would
melt the bag/burn the users face?

[Richard Casady]

On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:37:46 -0700 (PDT), Adam Freeman

Post by Adam Freeman
Anyone know what explosives are used in modern airbags?
I know sodium azide was used originally but it seems to have fallen
out of favour due to its instability and toxicity. A bit of searching
said argon or helium are used; are these just basically contained in a
bottle that is ruptured by explosive charges?
Are conventional gas generating propellants (e.g metallised ammonium
nitrate) not used because they produce too hot exhaust gases and would
melt the bag/burn the users face?

Someone at another group thought that acetone peroxide might usefully
generate cold gas, CO2 and H2O. I told him that it was like N3I too
sensitive to be useful. I have not crossposted this, I might paste a
useful reply into a post there.

Casady

[Me]

Post by Richard Casady
On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:37:46 -0700 (PDT), Adam Freeman

Post by Adam Freeman
Anyone know what explosives are used in modern airbags?
I know sodium azide was used originally but it seems to have fallen
out of favour due to its instability and toxicity. A bit of searching
said argon or helium are used; are these just basically contained in a
bottle that is ruptured by explosive charges?
Are conventional gas generating propellants (e.g metallised ammonium
nitrate) not used because they produce too hot exhaust gases and would
melt the bag/burn the users face?

Someone at another group thought that acetone peroxide might usefully
generate cold gas, CO2 and H2O. I told him that it was like N3I too
sensitive to be useful. I have not crossposted this, I might paste a
useful reply into a post there.
Casady

Lead Azide with a burn rate modertor....

Me one who has had experience with the compound...