1

Air Bags Used In

Automobiles
SUBMITTED BY : SAHIL DEV
CONTENT 2

Introduction
Purpose
Physics of airbag during collision
Need of the airbag in connection with the safety benefits
Design and construction of airbag system
Types of airbag
Functional characteristics required for airbags fabric
Raw material and manufacturing method
Finishing process
Comparison of nylon and polyester airbag fabric
Types of airbag fabric
Development in airbag system
Conclusion
References
INTRODUCTION 3

An airbag is an automotive safety restrain system for an occupant

as well as passengers. The system consists of a flexible fabric
envelope or cushion, designed to inflate rapidly during an
automobile collision.
A safety device used in the
four wheelers to avoid the
Head and Chest injuries from
collision by providing the
cushion between the
occupants.
PURPOSE 4

To protect occupants during a crash and provide protection to their

bodies when they strike interior objects such as the steering wheel or
a window
Protect the head and upper body from hitting to steering wheel
compared to seat belt alone. Airbag have reduced death by 28%,
serious injury by 29% and hospitalization by 24%
PHYSICS OF THE AIRBAG DURING 5

COLLISION
The Inertia Theory : If an object moving at a constant velocity continue
at the same velocity unless an external force acts upon them. This law,
known as the law of inertia, is demonstrated in the car collision.
Based on Newtons law:
F = m ( -V/t )
Where,
F = Force on the body
m = Mass of the object (Body)
Vi = Velocity of the moving object (After collision it will decrease)
a = (V/t) = Acceleration (After collision it will decrease)
CONTINUE 6

The injury can be avoided by reducing the force on the body. This can
be done by two ways as :
By increasing the time interval (t) over the force being applied
CONTINUE 7

By spreading the force over large area of the body

Distribution of force over body

NEED OF AIRBAGS IN CONNECTION 8

WITH THE SAFETY BENEFITS

Reduction by 26% in moderate to serious injuries by airbags and
seatbelts together than only by seat belt.

Percent reduction in moderate to serious head injuries

(Compared to drivers using no restraining safety equipment)
100

80

60

40

20

0
Airbad and belt Belt alone
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF 9

AIRBAG SYSTEM
There are three parts to an airbag that accomplish this action
Airbag itself
Crash sensor
Inflating system
AIRBAG INFLATION SYSTEM 10

The sensor sends the electric signal to burn the propellant kept here
to generate the gas
Monitors the readiness of the airbag system
A device that stores enough electrical energy to deploy the airbag
if the vehicles battery destroyed in it
CHEMISTRY BEHIND AIRBAG 11

Mainly two types of gas are used :

Nitrogen gas based airbags

NaN3 (S) ======> 2Na (S) + 3 N2 (G)

10 Na (S) + 2 KNO3 (S) ======> K2O (S) + 5Na2O (S) + N2 (G)

SiO2 (S) + K2O (S) + Na2O (S) ======> K2SiO3 (S) + Na2SiO3 (S)

Carbon dioxide gas based airbags

NaHCO3 (S) + CH3COOH (Aq) ======> CO2 (G) + CH3COONa (Aq) + H2O(L)
OPERATION SEQUENCE OF AIRBAG 12

Collision
Sensing and inflation
Fully deployed
Deflation
TYPES OF AIRBAG 13

Driver side airbag Passenger airbag Knee airbag

TYPES OF AIRBAG 14

Curtain airbag Side thorax airbag Door mounted side airbag

THE FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS 15
REQUIRED BY THE AIRBAGS FABRIC
High bursting strength
Good fire retardancy
Light weight
Compact folding ability
Low cost
Reduced skin abrasion (Softness)
High tear propagation resistance
Resistance against ageing
Defined dimension stability
Air seal ability i.e. low air permeability
Good coating adhesion
Good fog resistance
RAW MATERIAL AND MANUFACTURING 16
METHOD
Following multi-filament are used
Nylon 6
Nylon 6,6
Polyester
PA 46
PA 46 has higher melting point (285C) than Nylon 66 (260C) but cost of PA 46 is higher

Silicone
Fiber Yarn Fabric Coating
others

Module
Airbag Cut/Sew
Assembly
FINISHING PROCESS 17

Cutting the fabric in required shape by laser

Sewing by nylon-66, polyester and Kevlar aramid yarns

Desizing Calendaring Heat set Inspection

Folding Sewing Cutting

NYLON V/S POLYESTER 18

Properties Nylon 6,6 Polyester

Specific heat capacity (kJ/kg/K) 1.67 1.3

Melting Point (C) 260 258

Softening Point (C) 220 220

Energy to melt (kJ/kg) 589 427

Density (kg/m3) 1140 1390

CONTINUE 19

Fabric coverage is reduced for the

polyester fabric that gives less thermal
protection to the passenger.
CONTINUE 20

Low heat capacity of polyester at 400C temp for 2 second

Poor ageing performance of polyester in hydraulic degradation
behavior
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS FOR AIR 21

BAG FABRICS
Driver side Passenger Side
25 x 25 plain weave 25 x 25 rip stop

840 D nylon 6,6 840 D nylon 6,6

Scoured, heat set, coated Scoured, heat set

46 x 46 plain weave 41 x 41 plain weave

420 D nylon 6,6 630 D nylon 6,6

scoured, heat set, coated Scoured, heat set

49 x 49 plain weave

420 D nylon 6,6

Scoured, heat set

Typical characteristics of driver and passenger side fabrics used in airbags

(Courtesy of AlliedSignal)
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS FOR AIR 22

BAG FABRICS
Parameters Uncoated Coated
(Epi x Epi) 25 x 25 25 x 25
Thickness 0.013 0.107
Weight (oz/ sq. yd) 5.69 8.30
Tensile strength
Warp 533 450
Filling 549 478
Elongation
Warp 33.6 28
Filling 35.3 38
Tongue tear
Warp 199.4 85
Filling 192.5 83

Typical properties of 840 Denier, nylon 6,6 Airbag Fabric (Courtesy of AlliedSignal)
TYPES OF AIRBAG FABRICS 23

Coated airbag fabrics

Uncoated airbag fabric
Needle punched airbag fabrics
Woven and nonwoven combined airbag fabric
One sided laminated woven and nonwoven combined airbag
COATED AIRBAG FABRIC 24

Coating substances elastomeric material as

Neoprene
Silicone
ADVANTAGE OF SILICON OVER 25

NEOPRENE
Needed in half amount so lighter, pliable, less thicker fabric
More chemically competitive and cheap with nylon
Better heat resistance and stability
Prevents burn through (Pinholes) so maintains air permeability of the
fabric
THE PROBLEMS WITH COATED 26

WOVEN FABRIC AIRBAG

Formation of bubbles during coating
Breakup of film due to non integration of film and fabric
Injury to face skin
Irregularities during coating
Recyclability of the airbag becomes difficult
Fabric becomes stiffer
UNCOATED AIRBAG FABRIC 27

Woven in a manner that creates a product possessing low

permeability
Provide calendaring treatment to reduce permeability
Extrusion coated with a thermoplastic material to make them air
impermeable
ONE SIDED LAMINATED WOVEN AND 28
NONWOVEN COMBINED AIRBAG
Offer air seal ability and fire retardancy while being lightweight
Heavy weight per unit area
Reliability of the air bag is poor, are not solved
NEW DEVELOPMENT IN AIRBAG 29

SYSTEM
Lower Leg Airbag : Autolivs Inflatable Carpet protects the car
occupants feet, ankles and lower legs in frontal crashes by
removing the feet from the intruding foot well of the vehicle
CONTINUE 30

Radial Deployment System (RDS) : Airbag (Umbrella RDS) coves the

steering wheel-saves the short person
CONCLUSION 31

Airbags is one of the inevitable components in car and vehicles to

safeguard drivers and passengers as per present applications. SO
selection of material is key feature for airbag manufacturing
Airbags made from nylon 6,6 are more popular due to their inherent
properties of strength, energy absorption, thermal resistance and
environmental stability
Textile and automobile industry may provide effective safety to the
drives and passengers during driving time
REFERENCES 32

1. Aravin P. Periyasamy & Moin Khan, "Theory Behind In Air Bags Application in Automobiles.
2. Khan. M. S, project done by DKTE students, online launched on Textile review, Air bags for automobiles.
3. Kunal Singha, Strategies for in Automobile: Strategies for Using Automotive Textiles-Manufacturing
Techniques and Applications, Journal of Safety Engineering 2012, 1(1): 7-16 9. Indian textile research
journal, Airbags & airbag textiles.
4. Dupont , Sun. J, Barnes J. A, Airbag End-Use Technology, Material selection for Air-bags , pp 1-8.
5. Tasnim N. Shaikh, Satyajeet Chaudhari and Hiren Rasania ,Air Bag: A Safety Restraint System of an
Automobile, Department of Textile Engineering, Faculty of Technology & Engineering, The Maharaja
Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, Indi
6. S.Adanur, Wellington Sears Handbook of Industrial Textiles, Technomic, Switzerland, Ed. 1st edition,
1995, 500-5 Aravin P. Periyasamy & Moin Khan , Theory Behind In Air Bags Application in Automobiles.
7. Walter Fung And Mike Hardcastle , Textiles in automotive engineering Woodhead Publishing Limited.
8. Mukopadayay, S.K., and Partridge, J.F., Automotive Textiles, 1997, Textile progress, 29(12), 29-34.
9. Prof. P.A. Khatwani, Mr. S.S. Yardi NCUTE- programme on Technical textile.
10. http://textilepapers.tripod.com/airbags.htm
11. http://www.autoevolution.com/news/how-airbags-work-6362.html
 33

THANK YOU