Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel fire retardant composition that includes hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and an epoxy resin, including halogenated bisphenolic epoxy resins, halogenated phenol novolac epoxy resins, halogenated cresol novolac epoxy resins, halogenated resorcinol epoxy resins, halogenated hydroquinone epoxy resins, halogenated bisphenol A novolac epoxy resins, halogenated methyl resorcinol epoxy resins and halogenated resorcinol novolac epoxy resins, where the epoxy resin has an epoxy equivalent ranging from 150 to 800 g/eq. The addition of the epoxy resin improves heat stability of HBCD, allowing an increase in the processing temperature.

Abstract: A novel flame-retardant material is prepared by copolymerizing pentabromobenzyl-acrylate with a metal salt of a compound of Formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is H or lower alkyl, and R.sub.2 is selected from H, lower alkyl and ##STR2## The novel flame retardant has improved thermal stability and is useful in a variety of uses, e.g. as a flame retardant in engineering plastics and styrenic.