U.S. Army Special Forces Guide to Unconventional Warfare by Department of the Army
Authors: Department of the Army
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latex will coagulate (form lumps) as it comes from the plant. Strain off the thick part for use in flame fuel. If the rubber latex does not form lumps, add a small amount of acid to coagulate the latex and use the rubbery lump for gelling. It is best to air-dry the wet lumps before adding them to gasoline.
(a) Using commercial rubber latex.
1 . Place the latex and the gasoline in the container to be used for the gelled gasoline and stir.
Caution: Keep material away from open flames.
2 . Add the vinegar (or other acid) to the liquid in the container and stir again until the gel forms. Store in an air-tight container until ready to use.
Note . Use gelled gasoline as soon as possible because it becomes thinner on standing. If the gel is too thin, reduce the gasoline content (but not below 85% by volume).
3 . Natural rubber latex coagulates readily. If acids are not available, use one volume of acid salt (alum, sulfates and chlorides other than sodium and potassium). The formic acid content of crushed red ants will coagulate natural rubber latex.
(b) Using natural rubber latex.
80 parts by volume of gasoline.
20 parts by volume of coagulated or dried rubber.
Let the rubber lump soak in the gasoline in a closed container two or three days until a gelled mass is obtained. Prepare the gelled gasoline using the above formulation. This gelled gasoline should be used as soon as possible after it has thickened sufficiently.
d. Application. See paragraph 0303.1.
0303.7 WAX SYSTEMS
a. Description . See paragraph 0303.1.
b. Material and Equipment.
Caution: Lye causes severe burns to eyes.
Note . Lye is also known as caustic soda or sodium hydroxide. Allow for strength of lye. If only 50% (as in Drano), use twice the amount indicated above. Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash, potassa) may be used in place of lye.
c. Preparation.
Wax from natural sources.
( a ) 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, and the natural waxes will form a solid layer on the water surface. Skim off the wax and let it dry.
( b ) Natural waxes which have suspended matter should be melted and screened through a cloth.
Gel from gasoline and wax.
( a ) Put the gasoline in a clean container.
Caution: Keep material away from open flames.
( b ) Melt the wax and pour it into the gasoline container.
(c) Tightly cap the container and place it in hot water (sufficiently hot so that a small piece of wax will melt on the surface).
( d ) When the wax has dissolved in the gasoline, place the capped container in a warm water bath and permit it to cool slowly to air temperature.
( e ) If a solid paste of gel does not form, add another 10 parts by volume of melted wax and repeat ( b ), ( c ), and ( d ) above.
( f ) Continue adding wax (up to 40 parts by volume) as before until a paste or gel is formed. If no paste forms at 80 parts by volume of gasoline and 40 parts by volume of melted wax, the wax is not satisfactory for gelled gasolines and may be used only in combination with alkali.
Gel from gasoline , wax and alkali .
70 parts by volume of gasoline
29.5 parts by volume of melted wax
0.5 parts by volume of staurated lye solution
( a ) Prepare the saturated lye solution by carefully adding one volume of lye (or two volumes of Drano) to one volume of water and stir with a glass rod or wooden stick until the lye is dissolved.
Caution: Lye causes severe burns to eyes. Add the lye to the water slowly. Let cool to room temperature and pour off the saturated liquid solution. Do not prepare this solution in an aluminum container.
( b ) Prepare the gasoline-wax solution according to the method described above.
( c ) After the solution has cooled for about 15 minutes, CAUTIOUSLY loosen the cap, remove it and add the saturated lye solution.
( d ) Stir about every five minutes until a gel forms. If the gel is not thick enough, remelt with another 5 parts
(a) Using commercial rubber latex.
1 . Place the latex and the gasoline in the container to be used for the gelled gasoline and stir.
Caution: Keep material away from open flames.
2 . Add the vinegar (or other acid) to the liquid in the container and stir again until the gel forms. Store in an air-tight container until ready to use.
Note . Use gelled gasoline as soon as possible because it becomes thinner on standing. If the gel is too thin, reduce the gasoline content (but not below 85% by volume).
3 . Natural rubber latex coagulates readily. If acids are not available, use one volume of acid salt (alum, sulfates and chlorides other than sodium and potassium). The formic acid content of crushed red ants will coagulate natural rubber latex.
(b) Using natural rubber latex.
80 parts by volume of gasoline.
20 parts by volume of coagulated or dried rubber.
Let the rubber lump soak in the gasoline in a closed container two or three days until a gelled mass is obtained. Prepare the gelled gasoline using the above formulation. This gelled gasoline should be used as soon as possible after it has thickened sufficiently.
d. Application. See paragraph 0303.1.
0303.7 WAX SYSTEMS
a. Description . See paragraph 0303.1.
b. Material and Equipment.
Caution: Lye causes severe burns to eyes.
Note . Lye is also known as caustic soda or sodium hydroxide. Allow for strength of lye. If only 50% (as in Drano), use twice the amount indicated above. Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash, potassa) may be used in place of lye.
c. Preparation.
Wax from natural sources.
( a ) 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, and the natural waxes will form a solid layer on the water surface. Skim off the wax and let it dry.
( b ) Natural waxes which have suspended matter should be melted and screened through a cloth.
Gel from gasoline and wax.
( a ) Put the gasoline in a clean container.
Caution: Keep material away from open flames.
( b ) Melt the wax and pour it into the gasoline container.
(c) Tightly cap the container and place it in hot water (sufficiently hot so that a small piece of wax will melt on the surface).
( d ) When the wax has dissolved in the gasoline, place the capped container in a warm water bath and permit it to cool slowly to air temperature.
( e ) If a solid paste of gel does not form, add another 10 parts by volume of melted wax and repeat ( b ), ( c ), and ( d ) above.
( f ) Continue adding wax (up to 40 parts by volume) as before until a paste or gel is formed. If no paste forms at 80 parts by volume of gasoline and 40 parts by volume of melted wax, the wax is not satisfactory for gelled gasolines and may be used only in combination with alkali.
Gel from gasoline , wax and alkali .
70 parts by volume of gasoline
29.5 parts by volume of melted wax
0.5 parts by volume of staurated lye solution
( a ) Prepare the saturated lye solution by carefully adding one volume of lye (or two volumes of Drano) to one volume of water and stir with a glass rod or wooden stick until the lye is dissolved.
Caution: Lye causes severe burns to eyes. Add the lye to the water slowly. Let cool to room temperature and pour off the saturated liquid solution. Do not prepare this solution in an aluminum container.
( b ) Prepare the gasoline-wax solution according to the method described above.
( c ) After the solution has cooled for about 15 minutes, CAUTIOUSLY loosen the cap, remove it and add the saturated lye solution.
( d ) Stir about every five minutes until a gel forms. If the gel is not thick enough, remelt with another 5 parts
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