Crosslinked olefin polymer having improved flame retardance

Claim 1

In an olefin polymer composition containing a halogenated organic moiety which is active chlorinated organic compound, active brominated organic compound, passive brominated organic compound or hexachlorocyclopentadiene, dimerized hexachlorocyclopentadiene, hexachloroendomethylene tetrahydrophthalic acid or a derivative thereof and having the halogen concentration from about 5 to about 95 weight percent based on said moiety, the olefin polymer being selected from the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of aliphatic hydrocarbon monoolefins having no more than 12 carbon atoms, substituted α-monoolefins wherein the substituent is carboxylic acid, alkyl or haloalkyl ester of carboxylic acid wherein alkyl or haloalkyl has from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, acyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, carboxylate having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, alkoxyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and aryloxy having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, the improvement wherein the olefin polymer is crosslinked to at least its gel point and contains a flame retarding amount of elemental phosphorus having a specific gravity greater than 2.0.