Thermo-kinetic studies on azodicarbonamide/potassium periodate airbag gas generants

• Published in: Process safety and environmental protection Vol. 144; pp. 15 - 22
• Main Authors: Aravind, S.L, Sivapirakasam, S.P., Balasubramanian, K.R., Surianarayanan, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rugby Elsevier B.V 01-12-2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Activation energy; Air bags; Airbag gas generants; Azodicarbonamide; Ballistic tank testing; Composition; DSC-TGA; Oxidizing agents; Peak pressure; Potassium; Process safety; Thermal decomposition kinetics; Thermodynamic properties; Time response; Thermal decomposition kinetics; Ballistic tank testing; Airbag gas generants; Azodicarbonamide; DSC-TGA; Process safety
• ISSN: 0957-5820; 1744-3598
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2020.06.050

•Thermal characterisation of C2H4O2N4KIO4 mixtures were carried out for potential application as non-toxic airbag gas generants.•The azodicarbonamide/potassium periodate mixture can replace the existing toxic azide based gas generators used in airbag gas generators.•The DSC, kinetic studies and ballistic studies of the mixtures are carried out and compared with azide based gas generators.•The process safety aspects which has to be looked upon during the manufacture, mixing and testing of the mixture is enumerated in the manuscript.
In this study, thermal characterisation of stoichiometric azodicarbonamide/potassium periodate (C2H4O2N4/KIO4) fuel/oxidizer mixtures were systematically carried out for potential application as non azide non-toxic airbag gas generants. The onset temperature of the mixture was found to be 190°C. The thermo-kinetic studies of the mixture and pure azodicarbonamide compositions at different heating rates were also carried out using Ozawa and Kissinger method and the Arrhenius parameters were computed. The activation energy of the C2H4O2N4/KIO4 mixture by Ozawa method was found to be 81.5kJ mol−1 and 78.9kJmol−1 by Kissinger method. It was found that the activation energy of the pure azodicarbonamide was higher compared to the mixture. Ballistic tank tests to obtain the pressure Vs time plots were also done and the mixture gave time response of 45.2ms and 55.54ms to peak pressure. The experimental results have shown that C2H4O2N4/KIO4 mixture can be used as a replacement to existing azide based airbag gas generant compositions. Thus, the paper attempts to thermally characterize a non-toxic C2H4O2N4/KIO4 airbag gas generant mixture which can replace toxic azide based airbag gas generants and thereby facilitate safer driving.