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An inflator for an air bag has, in a housing having a gas discharging port, a combustion chamber accommodating a molded article of a gas generating composition which is burnt to generate gas and ignition means to ignite the molded article of a gas generating composition. The molded article contains

An inflator for an air bag has, in a housing having a gas discharging port, a combustion chamber accommodating a molded article of a gas generating composition which is burnt to generate gas and ignition means to ignite the molded article of a gas generating composition. The molded article contains a metal component and meets the requirement: (A) the (theoretical) combustion flame temperature of the molded article of the gas generating composition is 2000° C. or less, and part or the whole of the metal or metal oxide after combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition has a melting point not lower than the combustion flame temperature; and (B) bulk combustion residues remain in the combustion chamber at the time of combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition.

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1. An inflator for an air bag, comprising:a housing having a gas discharging port; a combustion chamber provided in said housing and accommodating a molded article of a gas generating composition which is burnt to generate a gas; and ignition means provided in said housing for igniting the molded ar

1. An inflator for an air bag, comprising:a housing having a gas discharging port; a combustion chamber provided in said housing and accommodating a molded article of a gas generating composition which is burnt to generate a gas; and ignition means provided in said housing for igniting the molded article of a gas generating composition; wherein the molded article of the gas generating composition comprises a gas generating agent containing (a) a fuel selected from the group consisting of triazine derivatives, triazole derivatives, tetrazole derivatives, guanidine derivatives, azodicarbonamide derivatives, and hydrazine derivatives and (b) a metal-containing oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of oxy acid salts, metal oxides, metal complex oxides, metal peroxides, and basic metal nitrates and meets the following requirements (A) and (B): (A) the (theoretical) combustion flame temperature of the molded article of the gas generating composition is 2000° C. or less, and part or the whole of the metal or metal oxide after combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition has a melting point not lower than the combustion flame temperature; and (B) bulk combustion residues remain in the combustion chamber at the time of combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition. 2. An inflator for an air bag, comprising:a housing having a gas discharging port; a combustion chamber provided in said housing and accommodating a molded article of a gas generating composition which is burnt to generate a gas; ignition means provided in said housing for igniting the molded article of a gas generating composition; and a porous dividing member arranged between the gas discharging port and the molded article of the gas generating composition, wherein the combustion gas is discharged via the dividing member from the gas discharging port, and wherein the molded article of the gas generating composition comprises a gas generating agent containing (a) a fuel selected from the group consisting of triazine derivatives, triazole derivatives, tetrazole derivatives, guanidine derivatives, azodicarbonamide derivatives, and hydrazine derivatives and (b) a metal-containing oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of oxy acid salts, metal oxides, metal complex oxides, metal peroxides, and basic metal nitrates and meets the following requirements (A) and (B): (A) the (theoretical) combustion flame temperature of the molded article of the gas generating composition is 2000° C. or less, and part or the whole of the metal or metal oxide after combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition has a melting point not lower than the combustion flame temperature; and (B) bulk combustion residues remain in the combustion chamber at the time of combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition. 3. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the combustion flame temperature in the requirement (A) is 1800° C. or less.4. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the combustion flame temperature in the requirement (A) is 1600° C. or less.5. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the combustion flame temperature in the requirement (A) is 1400° C. or less.6. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the combustion flame temperature in the requirement (A) is 1200° C. or less.7. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower limit of the combustion flame temperature in the requirement (A) is 800° C.8. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower limit of the combustion flame temperature in the requirement (A) is 900° C.9. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (A), in the metal or metal oxide after combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition, those having a higher melting point than the combustion flame temperature of the molded article of the gas generating composition is not less than 2% by weight.10. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (A), in the metal or metal oxide after combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition, those having a higher melting point than the combustion flame temperature of the molded article of the gas generating composition is not less than 5% by weight.11. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (A), in the metal or metal oxide after combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition, those having a higher melting point than the combustion flame temperature of the molded article of the gas generating composition is not less than 50% by weight.12. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (A), in the metal or metal oxide after combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition, those having a higher melting point than the combustion flame temperature of the molded article of the gas generating composition is not less than 90% by weight.13. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (A), the metal or metal oxide after combustion of the molded article of the gas generating composition is copper, silica, alumina, cobalt oxide, iron oxides (Fe2O3, FeO and Fe3O4), strontium oxide, barium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, or a combination of an alkaline earth metal oxide and silica.14. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (B), the shape of the molded article of the gas generating composition is approximate to the shape of bulk combustion residues.15. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (B), the ratio (weight ratio) of the bulk combustion residues to the molded article of the gas generating composition before combustion is 10% or more.16. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (B), the ratio (weight ratio) of the bulk combustion residues to the molded article of the gas generating composition before combustion is 20% or more.17. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (B), the ratio (weight ratio) of the bulk combustion residues to the molded article of the gas generating composition before combustion is 30% or more.18. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (B), the upper limit of the ratio (weight ratio) of the bulk combustion residues to the molded article of the gas generating composition before combustion is 60%.19. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (B), the ratio (weight ratio) of the bulk combustion residues to the theoretical amount of residues is 50% or more.20. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (B), the ratio (weight ratio) of the bulk combustion residues to the theoretical amount of residues is 80% or more.21. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (B), the ratio (weight ratio) of the bulk combustion residues to the theoretical amount of residues is 90% or more.22. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the requirement (B), the ratio (weight ratio) of the bulk combustion residues to the theoretical amount of residues is 95% or more.23. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal content in the molded article of the gas generating composition is 20 to 50% by weight.24. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal content in the molded article of the gas generating composition is 20 to 45% by weight.25. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein the porous dividing member comprises a single-layer body or a laminated body consisting of two or more layers having different functions.26. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein, when the porous dividing member comprises a single-layer body, the porous dividing member is a supporting member having a first leakage preventing function of preventing leakage of the molded article of the gas generating composition from the gas discharging port at least before and during combustion.27. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 26, wherein the supporting member has a second leakage preventing function of preventing leakage of the combustion residues from the gas discharging port during and after combustion.28. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein the porous dividing member comprises a laminated body of two or more layers, the porous dividing member has one, two or three members selected from the group consisting of a retaining member for fixing the supporting member, a protecting member for preventing deformation of the supporting member and a coolant for cooling a combustion gas, in addition to the supporting member having the first leakage preventing function, or having the first and second leakage preventing functions.29. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein the porous dividing member does not substantially cool a combustion gas.30. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein the pressure loss, of the combustion gas, to the porous dividing member, is 10 kPa or less in the atmosphere at 20° C. to 1000 L/min of air stream.31. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein the pressure loss, of the combustion gas, to the porous dividing member, is 5 kPa or less in the atmosphere at 20° C. to 1000 L/min of air stream.32. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein the pressure loss, of the combustion gas, to the porous dividing member, is 1 kPa or less in the atmosphere at 20° C. to 1000 L/min of air stream.33. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein the pressure loss, of the combustion gas, to the porous dividing member, is 0.1 kPa or less, or there is substantially no pressure loss in the atmosphere at 20° C. to 1000 L/min of air stream.34. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 2, which has a gap between the porous dividing member and the gas discharging port.35. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the triazine derivative is a member selected from the group consisting of triazine, melamine, trihydrazinotriazine, trimethylol melamine, alkylated methylol melamine, ammeline, ammelide, ammuneland, cyanuric acid, a cyanuric acid derivative, melam, melem, melamine nitrate, melamine perchlorate and nitrated melamine.36. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the triazole derivative, tetrazole derivative, guanidine derivative, azodicarbonamide derivative and hydrazine derivative are 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazole, tetrazole, 5-aminotetrazole, 5,5′-bi-1H-tetrazole, guanidine, nitroguanidine, cyanoguanidine, triaminoguanidine nitrate, guanidine nitrate, guanidine carbonate, burette, azodicarbonamide, carbohydrazide, carbohydrazide nitrate complexes, dihydrazide oxalate and hydrazine nitrate complexes.37. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the basic metal nitrate is at least one member selected from the group consisting of basic copper nitrate, basic cobalt nitrate, basic zinc nitrate, basic manganese nitrate, basic iron nitrate, basic molybdenum nitrate, basic bismuth nitrate and basic cerium nitrate.38. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content of the (a) component in the molded article of the gas generating composition is 5 to 60% by weight, and the content 6f the (b) component therein is 40 to 95% by weight.39. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the molded article of the gas generating composition further comprises at least either of (c) a binder and (d) an additive.40. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 39, wherein the binder as the (c) component contained in the molded article of the gas generating composition is at least one member selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt, carboxymethyl cellulose potassium salt, carboxymethyl cellulose ammonium salt, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl ethyl cellulose, fine crystalline cellulose, polyacrylamide, aminated polyacrylamide, polyacryl hydrazide, acrylamide-metal acrylate copolymers, polyacrylamide-polyacrylate copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic rubber, guar gum, starch and silicone.41. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 39, wherein the additive as the (d) component contained in the molded article of the gas generating composition is at least one selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide selected from copper oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, cobalt oxide, manganese oxide, molybdenum oxide, nickel oxide, bismuth oxide, silica and aluminum, a metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of aluminum hydroxide, cobalt hydroxide and iron hydroxide, a metal carbonate or a basic metal carbonate selected from cobalt carbonate, calcium carbonate, basic zinc carbonate and basic copper carbonate, a complex compound of metal oxide or metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of Japanese acid: clay, kaolin, talc, bentonite, diatomaceous earth and hydrotalcite, a metal acid salt selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, mica, molybdate, cobalt molybdate and ammonium molybdate, silicone, molybdenum disulfide, calcium stearate, silicon nitride, silicon carbide and a catalyst having ruthenium carried on alumina or silica.42. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 38, wherein the content of the (c) component in the molded article of the gas generating composition is 0.1 to 15% by weight, and the content of the (d) component therein is 0.1 to 20% by weight.43. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the (a) component in the molded article of the gas generating composition is melamine, and the (b) component therein is basic copper nitrate.44. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 38, wherein the molded article of the gas generating composition comprises (a) 10 to 25% by weight of melamine, (b) 60 to 80% by weight of basic copper nitrate, (c) 0.1 to 10% by weight of carboxy methyl cellulose sodium salt, and (d) 1 to 15% by weight of aluminum hydroxide or (d) 1 to 10% by weight of cobalt oxide.45. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 38, wherein the molded article of the gas generating composition comprises (a) 10 to 25% by weight of trihydrazinotriazine, (b) 60 to 80% by weight of basic copper nitrate, (c) 0.1 to 10% by weight of carboxy methyl cellulose sodium salt, and (d) 1 to 15% by weight of aluminum hydroxide or (d) 1 to 10% by weight of cobalt oxide.46. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the molded article of the gas generating composition is in the form of a cylinder, a single-perforated cylinder, a perforated cylinder, a doughnut or a pellet.47. An airbag apparatus including an inflator for an air bag, an impact sensor which, upon sensing impact, actuates the inflator, an airbag expanding by introducing a gas generated in the inflator into the airbag, and a module case accommodating the airbag, wherein the inflator for an air bag is an inflator for an air bag described in claims 1 or 2.48. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the molded article of the gas generating composition is a single-perforated cylinder that comprises melamine, basic copper nitrate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and aluminum hydroxide and wherein the inflator has a single layer porous dividing member arranged between the gas discharging port and the gas generant article, wherein said dividing member comprises a punched metal support and a wire mesh retainer having one round of winding of the wire mesh.49. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein fuel (a) is a triazine derivative.50. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein metal-containing oxidizing agent (b) is at least one compound selected from: oxy acid salts having ammonium, alkali metal, or alkaline earth metal cations and nitrate, nitrite, chlorate, or perchloate anions; metal oxides, metal peroxides, and metal complex oxides of copper, cobalt, iron, manganese nickel, zinc, molybdenum, or bismuth; and basic metal nitrates selected from the group consisting of basic copper nitrates, basic cobalt nitrate, basic zinc nitrate, basic maganese nitrite, basic iron nitrate, basic bismuth nitrate, and basic cerium nitrate.51. The inflator for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein metal-containing oxidizing agent (b) is a basic metal nitrate of the formulaM(NO3)y.nM(OH)z or Mx′(NO3)y′(OH)z′wherein M represents a metal, x′ represents the number of metals, y and y′ each represents the number of NO3 ions, z′ represents the number of OH ions, and n represents the ratio of the M(OH)z moiety to the M(NO3)y moiety.