• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Research
    • Gas Dynamics & Chemical Kinetics
      • Shock-Tube Physics
      • Shock-Tube Kinetics
        • Ignition Delay Time
        • Speciation
      • Chemical Kinetics Modelling
      • Fundamental Flame Propagation
        • Laminar Flame Propagation
        • Turbulent Flame Propagation
      • Detonations and Explosions
    • Rocket Propellants and Energetics
      • Composite Solid Propellants
      • Liquid Monopropellants
      • Hybrid Rockets and SFRJ
      • Gas Generant Systems
    • Optical Diagnostics and Spectroscopy
      • Direct Laser Absorption
        • Fixed-Wavelength Diagnostics
        • Scanned-Wavelength Diagnostics
      • Chemiluminescence
      • Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence
      • High-Speed Schlieren and Shadowgraph
    • Additional Research
  • People
    • Principal Investigator
    • Research Scientists
    • Post-Doctoral Researchers
    • Ph.D. Students
    • M.S. Students
    • Undergraduate Students
    • Former Students
  • Facilities
    • Turbomachinery Laboratory
    • Shock Tubes
      • High-Pressure Shock Tube
      • Aerospace Shock Tube
      • Square Shock Tube
      • Aerosol Shock Tube
      • Detonation Tube
      • Aerospace Corporation Laboratory
    • Optical Diagnostics
      • Quantum Cascade Lasers
      • Tunable Diode Lasers
      • Gas lasers
      • High-Speed Imaging
      • Collaborator Diagnostics
    • Constant-Volume Combustion Vessels
      • HPHT Flame Speed Vessel
      • Turbulent Flame Speed Vessel
    • Propellant and Energetics Laboratory
      • Mixing and Manufacturing
      • High Pressure Strand Burner(s)
      • Hybrid Rocket Stand
      • Supporting Equipment and Diagnostics
      • Safety Testing
    • Unique Experiments
  • Publications
  • Patents
  • Gallery
  • News
  • Contact Us

Petersen Research Group

Texas A&M University College of Engineering

Gas Generant Systems

Energetic gas generants are crucial components of most automotive airbag systems. Satisfactory materials for these systems must be environmentally friendly, yield a high gas output which is non-toxic and low-temperature, and minimal liquid slag. The current industry standard is composed of Guanidine Nitrate (GN) and Basic Copper Nitrate (BCN) which are environmentally friendly, readily available, and cost effective.

Improved gas generant performance can be realized by the strategic addition of additives, such as inert metal oxides, which can tailor the ballistic performance and reduce liquid slag production. Gas generant research at Texas A&M University is focused on the development of novel methods of additive synthesis and incorporation methodologies that can be utilized to further realize improved performance.

GN, BCN, and additives are homogeneously mixed though alternative methods: dry powder (Resodyn LabRAM Resonant Acoustic Mixer), wet mixing, or rotary evaporation (RE-2000B Rotary Evaporator). The mixing method can alter the dispersion of oxidizer/fuel particles or additives within the matrix and have profound effects on the resultant ballistic properties. Pellets (0.5″  0.5″) are manufactured using a custom punch coupled with a programmable Carver M-NE3890 hydraulic press with a clamping force of up to 50,000 . Pellet specimens are burned in a constant-volume strand burner, and their burning rates, gas production, and spectral features are compared to industry standards.

Gas generant combustion at TAMU.

Gas generant sample.

 

Research

  • Gas Dynamics & Chemical Kinetics
  • Rocket Propellants and Energetics
    • Composite Solid Propellants
    • Liquid Monopropellants
    • Hybrid Rockets and SFRJ
    • Gas Generant Systems
  • Optical Diagnostics and Spectroscopy
  • Additional Research

© 2016–2023 Petersen Research Group Log in

Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station Logo
  • College of Engineering
  • Turbomachinery Laboratory
  • J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • State of Texas
  • Open Records
  • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Statewide Search
  • Site Links & Policies
  • Accommodations
  • Environmental Health, Safety & Security
  • Employment