Enhanced thermal and ignition stability azide gas generant, and process and apparatus for making.

摘要

A process and apparatus for making gas generant pellets or tablets from a gas generant azide, and an oxidizer and/or gas generant therefor wherein powdered ingredients thereof are slurried in water (5), subjected to wet grinding (6, 6 min ), spray dried (9) to a powdered material which is molded into pellets or tablets which find use in vehicle crash bags or inflators. According to a first improvement the basicity of the water is adjusted to a pH greater than 8.0 and up to 12.5 via the addition of a base, followed by the addition of the oxidizer and/or reactant and finally the azide whereby azide addition is made to a basic mixture of the other ingredients to keep hydrazoic acid concentration below hazardous levels. According to further improvements the water is softened before its use in slurrying the powdered ingredients to remove undesirable Ca and Mg ions and sodium sulfide and/or tri-sodium phosphate are added to the slurry to precipitate any remaining undesirable Ca, Mg, Pb, Fe, Mn and Cu ions as non-hazardous compounds. <IMAGE>