What gas is filled in car airbags?
2 Answers
Car airbags are filled with nitrogen gas, allowing the airbag to inflate within 0.1 seconds to protect occupants. Here is more information about car airbags: 1. Car airbags are part of the vehicle's passive safety protection system, typically used in conjunction with seat belts to provide effective crash protection for passengers. Tests show that during traffic accidents, airbags can reduce head injury rates by approximately 25%. 2. During a collision, the airbag inflation process takes only 0.003 seconds. This extremely rapid inflation ensures passenger protection while being restrained by seat belts. Airbags deploy at speeds up to 320 km/h, providing sufficiently fast protection to prevent secondary injuries to occupants.
When it comes to the gas used in car airbags, I can share what I know. It's mainly filled with nitrogen, which has the chemical symbol N2. This gas is rapidly generated by chemical propellants inside the airbag during a collision. For example, substances like sodium azide are ignited to produce a large amount of nitrogen gas, causing the airbag to inflate instantly. Nitrogen is chosen because it's highly stable and inert—it doesn't burn, explode, or become toxic, ensuring safety during inflation without harming passengers. The working principle of the airbag system is quite interesting: sensors detect collision signals, then the control unit commands ignition, completing the entire process in milliseconds. Nitrogen's low density allows for rapid and even expansion, forming a cushioning layer. I've also heard that this design undergoes multiple tests to ensure reliable performance during high-speed collisions. In daily life, we should avoid installing items on the steering wheel that might interfere with airbag deployment. Overall, this technology is one of the cornerstones of automotive safety.
