TM 31-210 - Improvised Munitions Handbook - Section V

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

Parts by Volume	Ingredient	How Used	Common Source
60	Gasoline	Motor fuel	Gas station or motor vehicle
2 (flake) or 1 (powder)	Lye	Drain cleaner, making of soap	Food store Drug store
3	Ethyl Alcohol	Whiskey Medicine	Liquor Store Drug Store
NOTE: Methyl (wood) alcohol or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol can be substituted for ethyl alcohol, but their use produces softer gels.
14	Tallow	Food Making of soap	Fat rendered by cooking the meat or suet of animals.
NOTE: the following can be substituted for the tallow: (a) Wool grease (Lanolin) (very good) - Fat extracted from sheep wool. (b) Castor Oil (good). (c) Any vegetable oil (corn, cotonseed, peanut, linseed, etc.) (d) Any fish oil. (e) Butter or Oleomargarine.
It is necessary when using substitutes (c) to (e) to double the given amount of fat and lye for satisfactory bodying.

1. Pour gasoline into jar, bottle or other container. (DO NOT USE AN ALUMINUM CONTAINER.)

2. Add Tallow (or substitute) to the gasoline and stir for about 1/2 minute to dissolve fat.

3. Add alcohol to the gasoline mixture.

4. In a separate container (NOT ALUMINUM) slowly add lye to an equal amount of water. Mixture should be stirred constantly while adding lye.

5. Add lye solution to the gasoline mixture and stir occasionally until thickened (about 1/2 hour).

NOTE: The mixture will eventually (1 to 2 days) thicken to a very firm paste. This can be thinned, if desired, by stirring in additional gasoline.

Section V	No. 4-2
GELLED FLAME FUELS

LYE-ALCOHOL SYSTEMS

Lye (also known as caustic soda or Sodium Hydroxide) can be used in combination with alcohol and any of several fats to gel gasoline for use as a flame fuel.

NOTE: This fuel is not suitable for use in the chemical (Sulphuric Acid) type of fire bottle (Section V, No. 1). The acid will react with the lye and break down the gel.