The composition and morphology of a ceramic material based on magnesium oxide and their influence on its thermophysical and physico-mechanical properties are studied. It is established that when using different initial precursors, the matrix component has the same morphological features and is a cubic magnesium oxide. The dependences of physical and mechanical properties on the type of material and the method of molding were studied on experimental samples. Ill. 3. Ref. 23.