Thermal decomposition properties of guanidine nitrate and basic cupric nitrate

Characterized with a large gas production and low combustion temperature, the guanidine nitrate (GN) gas-generating agents are studied and applied widely. The determination factors of thermal decomposition properties of guanidine nitrate and basic cupric nitrate (GN/BCN) gas-generating agents for airbag application was investigated by the thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry–mass spectrmetry–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-DSC-MS-FTIR) and automatic calorimeter. Five different mass ratios were concerned. Our study showed that the onset reaction temperatures of GN/BCN mixtures were lower than that of individual GN and BCN. The thermal decomposition of GN/BCN mixtures could be divided into three stages, including the dissociation and escape of crystal water, solid (GN)-solid (BCN) phase reaction, and liquid (GN)-solid (BCN) phase reaction. When mass ratio of GN/BCN was 62.24/37.73, the largest value of the reaction heat was measured to 3152.7 J g^?1, with N₂ and H₂O as the major gases during thermal decomposition.