Methods were developed for forming an insulating material that combines a polysilazane, a cross-linking compound, and a gas-generating compound to form a reaction mixture, and curing the reaction mixture to form a modified polysilazane. The gas-generating compound may be water, an alcohol, an amine, or a matrix comprising one of a reaction product of a polysilazane and an isocyanate, and a reaction product of a polysilazane and an epoxy resin. The matrix also comprises a plurality of interconnected pores produced from a reaction of the polysilazane and the epoxy resin.

This work was done by Robert Larson of Alliant Techsystems, Inc. for Marshall Space Flight Center. For more information, contact Ronald C. Darty, Licensing Executive in the MSFC Technology Transfer Office, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Refer to MFS-33160-1.