Cobalt oxide chlorate candle

Claim 2

A substantially fuel-free oxygen-generating candle comprising a compressed active oxygen source consisting essentially of an alkali metal chlorate with from 0 to about 1% of alkali metal perchlorate; a sufficient amount of cobalt oxide selected from the group consisting of CoO and mixtures of CoO and Co 3 O 4 to maintain a self-sustaining catalytic decomposition admixed therewith; said mixture being substantially fuel-free; and an ignition material on an end of the candle whereby when ignited the candle generates oxygen by relatively low temperature catalytic decomposition of the chlorate.

Claim 3

The oxygen-generating candle of claim 1 containing in addition an excipient component comprising 0 to a minor amount of BaO 2 and 0 to a minor amount of SiO 2 , at least one of said components being present.

Claim 4

The oxygen-generating candle of claim 1 wherein the mixture comprising the candle consists essentially of about 1.5% BaO 2 , about 1.5% CoO and about 97% NaClO 3 .

Claim 5

A substantially fuel-free oxygen candle composition which when ignited generates oxygen in a self-sustaining reaction without additional heat or added fuel material; said composition, in weight percent, consisting of an intimate mixture of active generating components and a minor percentage of substantially fuel-free excipient components; the active substantially fuel-free oxygen-generating components consisting essentially of 0 to about 1% alkali metal perchlorate, an alkali metal chlorate, and a sufficient amount of cobalt oxide selected from the group consisting of CoO and mixtures of CoO and Co 3 O 4 to maintain a self-sustaining catalytic decomposition; the substantially fuel-free excipient components comprising to 0 to a minor amount of BaO 2 and 0 to a minor amount of SiO 2 , at least one of said components being present, to modify the rate of the reaction; the alkali metal chlorate and perchlorate being present in an amount to make the total percentage of components in the composition 100%.

Claim 6

A substantially fuel-free oxygen candle composition which when ignited generates oxygen in a self-sustaining reaction without additional heat or added fuel material; said composition, in weight percent, consisting of an intimate mixture of active generating components and a minor percentage of substantially fuel-free excipient components; the active substantially fuel-free oxygen-generating components consisting essentially of 0 to about 1% alkali metal perchlorate, an alkali metal chlorate, and a sufficient amount of cobalt oxide selected from the group consisting of CoO and mixtures of CoO and Co 3 O 4 to maintain a self-sustaining catalytic decomposition; the substantially fuel-free excipient components comprising to 0 to a minor amount of BaO 2 and 0 to a minor amount of SiO 2 , at least one of said components being present, to modify the rate of the reaction; the alkali metal chlorate and perchlorate being present in an amount to make the total percentage of components in the composition 100%.

Claim 7

The composition of claim 4 wherein the CoO is present in a range of from about 0.5 to about 5.0% and the Co 3 O 4 is present in a range of from 0 to about 2.0%.

Claim 8

The composition of claim 2 wherein the BaO 2 is present in a range of from 0 to about 4%, the SiO 2 is present in a range of 0 to about 1%, the alkali metal perchlorate is present in a range of from 0 to about 0.5%, and the CoO is the sole cobalt oxide and is present in 1.5% with the balance being essentially sodium chlorate.

Claim 9

The composition of claim 1 which consists essentially of about 1.5% BaO 2 , about 1.5% CoO and about 97.0% of NaClO 3 .

Claim 10

The composition of claim 1 which consists essentially of about 1.5% BaO 2 , about 1.5% CoO, about 0.15% NaClO 4 and about 96.5% NaClO 3 .

Claim 11

The composition of claim 1 which consists essentially of about 5% BaO 2 , about 2% SiO 2 , about 4% CoO and about 89% NaClO 3 .

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 wherein the alkali metal is sodium.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 wherein the rate of oxygen liberation is increased by increasing the amount of cobalt oxide.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11 wherein the composition contains in addition an excipient whereby the rate of oxygen liberation is decreased.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein the excipient is up to about 3% barium peroxide.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 wherein the excipient is up to about 8% silicon dioxide.

Claim 19

The method of claim 11 where the composition consists essentially of about 1.5% BaO 2 , about 1.5% CoO and about 97% NaClO 3 .

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 wherein the mixture comprising the candle consists essentially of about 1.5% BaO 2 , about 1.5% CoO and about 97% NaClO 3 .