a. Characteristics.
(1) Pour more readily than usual thickened fuels.
(2) Give a larger diameter flame than thickened fuels.
(3) Give longer effective ranges than liquid fuels.
(4) Prepared more quickly in cool temperatures than thickened fuels.
b. Preparation.
(1) Open 5-1/4-pound can or cans of thickener.
(2) Add 2 mess kit spoonfuls of water to each can of thickener. Stir until the water disappears in the thickener. It is not necessary to mix the water uniformly with all of the thickener.
(3) Proceed at once as directed in paragraph 35. Avoid accidental addition of any water to the thickener or fuel other than that stated in (2) above.
(4) Peptized fuels set a little more quickly than the usual thickened fuels, but their general appearance after setting is the same. After standing, however, peptized fuels spontaneously become thinner and may be poured without use of pressure. The time it takes for thinning to occur depends on the temperature of the fuel. At 75° Fahrenheit or higher, thinning occurs in approximately 1 to 2 hours. At temperatures below 60° Fahrenheit, thinning occurs several days after preparation of the peptized fuel.