THIS INVENTION RELATES TO NOVEL INORGANIC REFACTORY FOAMS, THEIR PRECURSORS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE. THE FOAMS ARE FORMED BY HEATING A FILLER, UNSATURATED POLYESTER FOAM CONTAINING A REFACTORY FILLER, A FLUXING AGENT WHICH IS A COMPOUND OF A METAL OF THE FIRST AND SECOND GROUPS OF THE PERIODIC TABLE AND, IF DESIRED, A HEAT RESISTANT FIBROUS MATERIAL, THEREBY CONSUMING THE POLYESTER BINDER TO PRODUCE THE INORGANIC FOAM. ALTERNATIVELY, THE BINDER MAY BE REDUCED TO A CARBONACEOUS STATE TO PROVIDE AN INSULATIVE MATERIAL USEFUL PER SE AS A PRECUSOR FOR THE INORGANIC FOAMS.