Use of Sodium Azide in Gas Generants for Inflatable Restraint System Inflators

摘要

The report presents a comprehensive summary of the chemistry and hazard aspects of sodium azide, a chemical anticipated to be used as a constituent in gas generants for inflatable automotive occupant restraint system inflators. Sodium azide has been safely manufactured and handled in large quantities since its discovery almost one hundred years ago. Other applications of azides include pesticides, herbicides, soil fumigants, wood preservatives, antihypertensive drugs and laboratory reagents. It is concluded that the benefit-to-risk-ratio of lives saved and injuries avoided by inflatable restraints versus accidental poisonings by gas generant chemicals is so many orders of magnitude above 1.0 that the use of toxic chemicals in inflators appears to be justified.