Polycyclic-olefinic polymers containing epoxy functionality for forming low-loss films having improved thermal properties

A composition comprising:

• a) a polymer comprising:
• i) at least one first repeating unit represented by formula (IA), said first repeating unit is derived from a monomer of formula (I):
• wherein:
• denotes a place of bonding with another repeat unit;
• m is an integer 0, 1 or 2;
• wherein at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 contains an epoxy group chosen from epoxy, —CH2epoxy, epoxy(C3-C10)cycloalkyl, epoxy(C6-C12)bicycloalkyl, epoxy(C6-C12)aryl and epoxy(C6-C12)aryl(C1-C6)alkyl;
• the remaining R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different and each independently chosen from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, linear or branched (C3-C16)alkyl, (C3-C10)cycloalkyl, (C6-C12)bicycloalkyl, (C6-C12)aryl and (C6-C12)aryl(C1-C6)alkyl;
• or
• one of R1 and R2 taken together with one of R3 and R4 and the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a substituted or unsubstituted (C5-C14)cyclic, (C5-C14)bicyclic or (C5-C14)tricyclic ring;
• and
• ii) at least one second repeating unit represented by formula (IIA), said second repeating unit is derived from a monomer of formula (II):
• wherein:
• denotes a place of bonding with another repeat unit;
• n is an integer 0, 1 or 2;
• R5, R6, R7 and R8 are the same or different and each independently chosen from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, linear or branched (C3-C16)alkyl, (C3-C10)cycloalkyl, (C6-C12)bicycloalkyl, (C6-C12)aryl and (C6-C12)aryl(C1-C6)alkyl;
• or
• one of R5 and R6 taken together with one of R7 and R8 and the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a substituted or unsubstituted (C5-C14)cyclic, (C5-C14)bicyclic or (C5-C14)tricyclic ring;
• and
• iii) optionally a third repeating unit represented by formula (IIIA), said third repeating unit is derived from a monomer of formula (III):
• wherein:
• denotes a place of bonding with another repeat unit;
• p is an integer 0, 1 or 2;
• at least one of R9, R10, R11 and R12 is selected from the group consisting of methylidene, ethylidene, vinyl, linear or branched (C3-C16)alkenyl, (C3-C10)cycloalkenyl, (C6-C12)bicycloalkenyl and (C6-C12)aryl(C2-C16)alkenyl and the remaining R9, R10, R11 and R12 are the same or different and each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, linear or branched (C3-C16)alkyl, (C3-C10)cycloalkyl, (C6-C12)bicycloalkyl, (C6-C12)aryl and (C6-C12)aryl(C1-C6)alkyl;
• or
• one of R9 and R10 taken together with one of R1 and R12 and the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a substituted or unsubstituted (C5-C14)cyclic, (C5-C14)bicyclic or (C5-C14)tricyclic ring containing at least one double bond;
• wherein the first repeat unit is present at an amount not less than five mole percent based on total moles of first and second repeat units;
• and
• b) one or more of an epoxy compound chosen from:
• d) one or more additives chosen from a thermal acid generator or a free radical initiator.