Lighting Esbit Tablets

This is gelled isopropyl alcohol.

Hand sanitizer is gelled 62% ethyl alcohol, which is much better for its intended purpose.

–B.G.–

Bob,

Thanks for the additional data.

I have added some information to my original post with data on the fire starter gel and hand sanitizer.

From what I am seeing, it looks like the are the same, but the concentration of "alcohol" is higher in the fire gel.

As such, seems to me that it could be use sparingly as a hand sanitizer too.

Is that your conclusion too?

-Tony

My opinion is that there is a reason why they make hand sanitizer with ethyl alcohol. As a germicide, it is more effective. I doubt that ethyl alcohol is cheaper or anything else.

As a fire gel, I would expect ethyl alcohol to be hotter.

OBTW, it is a cute trick to take some of the standard hand sanitizer gel (ethyl alcohol) and mix it with some ordinary table salt. Immediately the salt binds with the gel agent and liquid ethyl alcohol runs out. Don't get me wrong, I know it wouldn't be drinkable, but it would probably burn faster than in the gel form. However, it is just one of those fun tricks from the chem lab.

–B.G.–