Quote Originally Posted by JBMcB View Post
Most airbags use a compound called sodium azide to inflate. It does, technically, explode. It rapidly reduces to flaming chunks of sodium and scalding hot nitrogen [[LOTS of nitrogen, which is why it's great at inflating airbags) To inflate the largest
you need a slug about the size of a quarter.

It's an incredibly nasty compound but it does the job.
The reason for the "shrapnel", in Takata's case, is not the propellant but the container it's in. What' s happening is the metal used in making the cartridge is being eroded by the propellant, weakening it. When it's discharged, instead of a controlled discharge, the cartridge explodes, sending shrapnel flying, and injuring or killing the people it was meant to protect.