Overbased metal carbonate/carboxylate microemulsions and halogen-containing polymers containing same

A halogen-containing polymer composition comprising a halogen-containing polymer and a heat stabilizing effective amount of a microemulsion comprising:

• a) an overbased metal carbonate/carboxylate obtained from the reaction of an oxide and/or hydroxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc and mixtures thereof and an aliphatic acid in which the aliphatic moiety contains up to about 30 carbon atoms and carbon dioxide in an oil;
• b) one or more non-phenolic compounds having about two or about three hydroxyl groups;
• and,
• c) one or more polyols, alcohol ethoxylates and/or alcohol propoxylates having from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alcohol, and 0 to 3 ethylene oxide units and/or 0 to 3 propylene oxide units.

A process for preparing a halogen-containing polymer composition having low fogging characteristics comprising the step of reacting simultaneously or sequentially a halogen-containing polymer and a heat stabilizing effective amount of a microemulsion comprising:

• a) an overbased metal carbonate/carboxylate obtained from the reaction of an oxide and/or hydroxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc and mixtures thereof and an aliphatic acid in which the aliphatic moiety contains up to about 30 carbon atoms and carbon dioxide in an oil;
• b) one or more non-phenolic compounds having about two or about three hydroxyl groups;
• and,
• c) one or more polyols, alcohol ethoxylates and/or alcohol propoxylates having from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alcohol and 0 to 3 ethylene oxide units and/or 0 to 3 propylene oxide units.