Flame-resistant composition containing a norbornene derivative polymer

A thermally stable, flame resistant composition comprising:

• a. a ring-opening polymerization product of a norbornene derivative containing at least one polar group, and
• b. a flame retarding compound in sufficient amounts to elevate flame resistance of said composition without reducing mechanical strength thereof, said flame retarding compound selected from the group consisting of a halogen-containing multicyclic compound of the formula (1) to (3) or a bromine-containing aromatic compound of the formula (4) to (6) as follows:
• ##STR30## wherein X is chlorine or bromine, X' is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, alkyl, or alkoxy having 1-20 carbon atoms, ##STR31## Z is a tetravalent cyclic hydrocarbon group having at least five carbon atoms and m is an integer from 4-16:
• ##STR32## wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms, bromoalkyl, or hydroxy wherein one R, but not more than one R, is hydroxy;
• R' and R" are hydrogen or alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms;
• n is an integer from 3-6;
• l, s, p and r are each integers;
• the sum of l plus s is an integer from 2-10;
• and the sum of l, s, p and r is 10.