High strength polymer-derived ceramic foams - composition and methods

A ceramic foam material, comprising:

• a ceramic matrix derived from pyrolysis of an inorganic polymer,
• wherein the ceramic foam material is fabricated by self-reacting the inorganic polymer to produce in situ blowing agents by using at least one catalyst, and
• optionally wherein at least one of a surfactant, water, and alcohol is used in the fabrication of the ceramic foam material to control a pore size of the ceramic foam material.

A method of fabricating a ceramic foam material, the method comprising:

• forming an intermediate mixture by mixing an inorganic polymer with at least one filler, optionally a catalyst, optionally a blowing agent, and optionally a foaming agent;
• and
• heating the intermediate mixture to cure the intermediate mixture, pyrolyze the inorganic polymer, and form the ceramic foam material.