Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for the preparation of a liquid stabilizer for imparting heat stability to polyvinyl chloride compositions which is essentially solvent-free, comprising the steps of reacting one or more carboxylic acids with one or more metal sources in the presence of one or more organophospite ester-reactive solvents while stripping off water, wherein the metal in said metal source is selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ba, Zn, Sr, K, and Cd; adding one or more organophosphite esters selected from the group consisting of triorganic phosphites, organic acid phosphites, diphosphites, and polyphosphites, and reacting the one or more organophosphite ester-reactive solvents with said organophosphite esters, while distilling off phenol; and, optionally, adding one or more additives known in the art before, during, or after the addition of the one or more organophosphite esters to the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A triaxial compression test apparatus includes a cylindrically-shaped sample disposed in a fixed-hydraulic cylinder with the sample's ends disposed between a first piston and the fixed cylinder's base. An annular space for hydraulic fluid surrounds the remaining surface of the sample. The first piston, located in the fixed cylinder, includes a rod mechanically coupled to the housing of a floating hydraulic cylinder housing a second piston therein. A single force applied to the second piston, 1. transmits a first force, via the first piston, along the longitudinal axis of the sample and 2. transmits a second force along the axial axes of the sample via a hydraulic fluid coupled from the floating cylinder to the annular space of the fixed cylinder. A constant ratio is maintained between the two forces.

Abstract: Novel organotin compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein q is 1 or 2; m is 1,2 or 3; R.sub.6 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, and alkaryl group having up to 30 carbon atoms, or a group of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 are each independently an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon group or a hydrogen atom, with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 contains, adjacent to the HC grouping, a carbonyl group which forms part of an acid group, an ester group, and acid halide group, a ketone group or an aldehyde group; when q=1, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.