Whats in a Side Airbag?
Most side curtain airbags utilize compress argon gas, an inert gas stored in a pressurized cylinder called a hybrid inflator. The hybrid inflator or canister is under pressure at 3000 psi. Side impact airbags deploy approximately 3 times as fast as the frontal airbags at .12 to .25 milliseconds. The leading edge speed of some airbags during deployment may approach speeds of approximately 495 mph. Remember there is less crush zone in a T-bone crash or side impact collision, so side airbags deploy faster than front impact air bags. To protect the head and thorax of the human body, the side impact airbag deploys on the crashed or impacted side of the vehicle. Side impact sensors are mounted along the lower side of the vehicle to detect intrusion at an approximate 20 mph impact. The side impact sensors may be located in the front sides or rear side of the vehicle. The sensors signal the diagnostic energy reserve module, DERM, or airbag computer to deploy the side airbag in certain side imp
