Abstract: A paraffin composition that is solid at 25.degree. C. and has an improved heat reservoir by virtue of being combined with inert solid material, wherein the paraffin composition contains from 25 to 55% by weight of at least two constituents comprising aluminium or one of its oxides or silicates, and magnesium or one of its oxides or silicates.

Abstract: An insulating fluid for impregnating the solid insulation of an oil-filled electric power cable, particularly for a cable to be submerged in water, which comprises at least one lower aliphatic derivative of napthalene, preferably, 1 methylnapthalene or 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydronapthalene, or mixtures thereof or a mixture of one or more lower aliphatic derivatives of naphthalene with a conventional impregnating fluid. In the latter case, the derivative is present in a significant amount and preferably, is present in an amount sufficient to provide a specific gravity substantially equal to the specific gravity of water. Also, an electric power cable having its insulation impregnated with such insulating fluid.

Abstract: Norbornadiene [bicyclo(2.2.1)heptadiene-2,5] is dimerized to the exo-exo stereoisomer of the hexacyclic dimer of norbornadiene at both an excellent selectivity and conversion using an effective amount of a three component catalytic system of diethylaluminum chloride, ferric or ferrous or cobaltic or cobaltous acetylacetonate and bis(1,2-diphenylphosphino)ethane. The reaction rate is rapid. After hydrogenation the exo-exo hexacyclic dimer can be used as a component of high energy fuel for either jet or rocket propulsion.

Abstract: Sulfonic acids are converted into a hydrocarbon oil of superior oxidation stability by transforming the acids into compounds selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulfonates, substituted ammonium sulfonates, and sulfonic acid esters; and hydrotreating the resultant sulfonic acid derivatives at elevated temperatures in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst. The hydrotreating process frees the parent hydrocarbons that originally constituted the organic portion of the sulfonic acids by cleaving the carbon-sulfur bond of the sulfonic acid derivatives. These parent hydrocarbons are recovered from the reaction products of the hydrotreating step and comprise a hydrocarbon oil that exhibits a higher stability toward oxidation than can otherwise be obtained from other hydrocarbon oils of similar composition and viscosity.