TM 31-210 - Improvised Munitions Handbook - Section V

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

Parts by Volume	Ingredient	How Used	Common Source
80	Gasoline	Motor fuel Solvent	Gas station Motor vehicles
Any one of the following:

20	Ozocerite Mineral wax Fossil wax Ceresin wax	Leather polish Sealing wax Candles Waxed paper Textile sizing	Natural deposits General stores Department store
	Beeswax	Furniture and floor waxes Artificial fruit and flowers Lithographing Wax paper Textile finish Candles	Honeycomb of be General store Department store
	Bayberry wax Myrtle wax	Candles Soaps Leather polish Medicine	Natural form Myrica berries General store Department store Drug store Food store

1.Obtaining wax from natural sources: Plants and berries are potential sources of natural waxes. place the plants and/or berries in boiling water. The natural waxes will melt. Let the water cool. The natural waxes will form a solid layer on the water surface. skim off the solid wax and let it dry. With natural waxes which have a suspended matter when melted, screen the wax through a cloth.

2. Melt the wax and pour into jar of bottle which has been placed in a hot water bath.

3. Add gasoline to the bottle.

4. When wax has completely dissolved in the gasoline, allow the water bath to cool slowly to room temperature.

NOTE: If a gel does not form, add additional wax (up to 40% by volume) and repeat the above steps. if no gel forms with 40% wax, make a Lye solution by dissolving a small amount of Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) in an equal amount of water. Add this solution (1/2% by volume) to the gasoline wax mix and shake bottle until a gel forms.

Section V	No. 4-6
GELLED FLAME FUELS

WAX SYSTEMS

Any of several common waxes can be used to gel gasoline for use as a flame fuel which will adhere to target surfaces.