Napalm

Louis F. Fieser (1899-1977) was born in Columbus, Ohio, and received his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1924 with James B. Conant. He was professor of chemistry at Bryn Mawr College and then at Harvard University from 1930 to 1968. While at Bryn Mawr. he met his future wife, Mary, then a student. In collaboration, the two Fiesers wrote numerous chemistry texts and monographs. Among his scientific contributions, Fieser was known for his work in steroid chemistry and in carrying out the first synthesis of vitamin K. He was also the inventor of jellied gasoline, or napalm, which was developed at Harvard during World War II. 

Napalm (Thickened Fuel). An acronym for NAphthenic acid and PALMetate, the former being a petroleum product, while the latter is extracted from palm oils. Napalm was developed by Dr Louis F. Fieser of Harvard University... 

Incendiaries. AP has been added to Napalm-type flame agents to raise the flame temp and increase the burning intensity (Ref 17). Graphite, 30 parts 20 of AP 13 of polyester 37 of styrene,... 

Production of TPA is much more complex than that of napalm, limiting it to those nations with an advanced petrochemical industry. Because of the reactivity with air, production is usually carried out in an inert atm of nitrogen or helium. Polymerization of isobutylene is also a complex process, requiring catalysts such as Al, Ti or Mo... 

Na is a very reactive substance which is never found free in nature. It is not generally used as an incendiary agent as such but, because of its tendency not only to float on w, but also to ignite spontaneously in contact with it, it may be added to napalm for use against river targets or enemy positions in rice paddy fields or in snow (Ref 7, p 103 Ref 4, pp 28-29)... 

Control systems can fail in many ways, and highly energetic reactions like the styrene polymerization in Examples 5.7 and 14.8 raise major safety concerns. The contents of the vessel are similar to napalm. Discuss ways of preventing accidents or of mitigating the effects of accidents. Is there one best method for avoiding a disastrous runaway ... 

Black powder may be used for igniting napalm, flammable solvents in open containers, paper, loose rags, straw, excelsior and other tinder type materials. If it is not available already mixed, it can be prepared as follows ... 

Put at least 2 spoonfuls on the material to be ignited. To ignite liquids, such as solvents or napalm, wrap several spoonfuls in a piece of paper and hang this just over the fluid, or place nearby. If fluids dampen the mixture it may not ignite. 

Napalm is the best incendiary to use against most flammable targets. It will readily ignite paper, straw, flammable solvents, or wooden structures. 

Napalm will keep well if stored in a tightly sealed container. It can be ignited with a match or any of the first fire mixtures described previously. The ignition packet should be placed adjacent to or just over the napalm, otherwise the petroleum may soak it and prevent its burning. 

Napalm makes an excellent Molotov cocktail. Just fill any glass bottle with a small neck with the napalm and cram a twisted strip of cloth into the mouth of the bottle as a stopper. See Figure 60. When ready to use, pull about 4 to 6 inches of the... 

Napalm also can be mixed by a cold method, although it may take hours to thicken. This should... 

Paraffin-sawdust is almost as effective as napalm against combustible targets, but it is slower in starting. It is solid when cool and thus is more easily carried and used than liquid napalm. In addition, it can be stored indefinitely without special care. 

An easy, effective way to use this mixture is to put about a quart of it in a paper bag and place the bag on the target material. The bag can be lit with a match and the mixture will ignite quite readily. It bums as well as napalm. If a longer delay time is required, use one of the igniter mixes described earlier along with time fuse or other delay device. The time fuse alone, however, will not ignite the incendiary mix. 

A very remarkable effect was observed by Toms during World War II when pumping Napalm (a jellied solution of a polymer in gasoline). He found that the polymer solution could be pumped through pipes in turbulent flow with considerably lower friction loss than exhibited by the gasoline at the same flow rate in the same pipe without the polymer. This phenomenon,... 

In accordance with data of 2001, military chemical waste in Georgia consists of rocket fuel (about 1500 tonnes), napalm (912 tonnes), and large amount of chloropicrin. In spite of the fact that they are partially utilized, the rest poses still concern and requires great attention. 

Ml Thickener A standard thickener known as Napalm. It is a mixed aluminum soap in which ca 50% of the org acids are derived from coconut oil, 25% from naphthenic acids 25% from oleic acid. When stirred into gasoline at a temp range from 16 to 29°C, Ml swells until the entire vol of gasoline becomes a more or less homogeneous gel [Ref TM3-215/AFM 355-7(Dec I963),p4ll... 

NP Abbr for Napalm. Aluminum soap in powder form, used to gelatinize oil or gasoline for use in Napalm bombs or flame throwers. See also Ml, M2 Sc M4 thickeners... 

---