Abstract: A process for significantly decreasing processing time, reducing capital costs, increasing yield, improving quality, and improving the safety of refining petroleum residues and sludges generated by the oil producers, refineries and re-refiners comprising the steps of heating under vacuum the petroleum residues and sludges with steam or inert gas injection or both until a temperature ranging from between 680.degree. F. to 1000.degree. F. is attained and holding the mixture at this temperature for a short residence time of from less than an hour to abut 6 hours while vacuum and sparging are being carried out to generate asphalt. Volatile products are condensed to produce fuel, waxy oil and can be further processed to produce refined fuel, wax and dewaxed oil.

Abstract: The genus of apparatus according to the teachings of the invention is characterized by use of a heat conducting elastomer which is compressed between an integrated circuit and a surface of a chassis made of heat conducting material such as Aluminum. The elastomer conducts heat from the integrated circuit to the surface of the chassis where it warms the entire chassis and is radiated to the ambient and removed by convection cooling. Since the chassis provides a much greater radiating and convection cooling surface, cooling of the integrated circuit is enhanced.