Takata Will Phase Out Ammonium Nitrate Airbag Propellant

Takata Corp. plans a rapid "transition" away from ammonium nitrate, the volatile explosive it used in 34 million airbag inflators now being recalled by 11 car and truck manufacturers in the U.S., Automotive News reports.

Kevin Kennedy, who heads Takata's North American unit, told the U.S. House subcommittee on commerce, manufacturing and trade on Tuesday that the company is shifting to the more stable guanidine nitrate propellant used by other airbag makers, including competitors that are helping to supply replacement devices for the Takata recalls.

Kennedy conceded that ammonium nitrate "appears to be one of the factors" that can make its inflators explode when triggered. The devices have been linked to six fatalities and more than 100 injuries.

Panel Chair Michael Burgess (R-Tex.) tells reporters there have been no reports of inflator failures involving non-ammonium nitrate propellants. The chemical works well but is sensitive to moisture. Virtually all cases of misfiring Takata devices to date have occurred in older vehicles located in hot, high-humidity climates.

Kennedy says Takata blends a moisture trapping desiccant into some of its inflators. But AN says he told the committee none of the recalled inflators were formulated with a desiccant.

The newspaper adds that committee members were dumfounded to hear Kennedy say some of the replacement inflators Takata is supplying for the recalls don't contain a desiccant either. The company acknowledged in prepared testimony submitted earlier that the new round of recalls will include replacing some inflators that were used to replace factory-installed devices.