---

---

---

Airbag (Air Bag) - Parts Models

This article will explain what the air bag is and what its parts are. As we assume most people know, the purpose of the air bag is to protect vehicle occupants from serious injury in a collision. The amount of airbags in a vehicle varies.

Air bags open during a crash in a split second. It consists of three main components to help achieve this result. The airbag is made of thin nylon fabric that is folded under the steering wheel, the dashboard, seats, doors or ceiling.

Another important and indispensable part of the air bag is the crash sensor system. This sensor (transducer) triggers the airbag and it opens. The minimum collision speed which can activate the sensor is set between 16 to 24 miles per hour.

The sensors receive information from an accelerometer built into a microchip. An air bag inflates after a reaction between sodium azide (NaN 3) and potassium nitrate (KNO 3), which creates nitrogen gas. The fast chemical reaction fills the airbags up in a matter of milliseconds.

Afterwards, the air bag gas dissipates through tiny holes, allowing the driver or passenger to move. Although the whole process happens in only one twenty-fifth of a second, it is enough to help prevent serious injury.

A powdery substance, either cornstarch or talcum powder, is released from the airbag, which is used by manufacturers of airbags to keep the airbag flexible when it is still folded up. Even with the advancement of technology, airbags are still only effective if the driver and passengers are wearing seatbelts.