Results and experience gained in the previous project (GA106/09/1101) will be utilized in exploring possible routes of fabrication of heat resistant SiOC ceramic foams from polysiloxane resins as preceramic precursors. The resins will be synthesized and their decisive properties will be characterized. Various methods of porosity formation (including filling the resin with polymer particles or controlling the curing process) will be verified. The foams will be combined with layers of fiber reinforced prepreg to make sandwich structures with promising potential of application at elevated temperatures. Foam properties relevant to the intended high temperature applications (thermal stability of microstructure, oxidation resistance, mechanical properties, and fracture toughness) will be studied. Structure, mechanical properties, and thermal endurance of the fabricated sandwich composites will be investigated and optimized.