The Formulation Design and Performance Test of Gas Generators Based on Guanidinium Azotetrazolate

Six types of gas generators based on guanidinium azotetrazolate (GZT) were designed into six formulations having different oxidants: GZT-LiNO₃ (1), GZT-NaNO₃ (2), GZT-KNO₃ (3), GZT-Mg(NO₃)₂ (4), GZT-Sr(NO₃)₂ (5) and GZT-KMnO₄ (6), respectively. The properties of these formulations were investigated in terms from gas production, appropriate combustion temperature and nontoxic gaseous emission. REAL software calculation program [1] was used to calculate the combustion heat at constant pressure, combustion heat at constant volume and specific volume in standard state. It showed that gas generators based on GZT with nitrate salts as oxidant exhibited better performance. Thus its thermal behavior and combustion temperature were studied further and the experimental results were consistent with the theoretical calculation results. Therefore, it can be concluded that formulation 3 has comprehensive optimal performance: low moisture content, insensitivity to friction, heightened vacuum stability, high combustion heat and specific volume. Namely, formulation 3 exhibited the most promising indications of commercial application, such as using in air bags of motor vehicles.