The objects of investigation are foam ceramic materials based on aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, and alumina-magnesia spinel. The results of investigations on the sintering of spinel ceramic using aluminum and magnesium oxides as the initial components are presented. It is shown that the optimal range of the sintering temperatures for obtaining materials with open-cellular pore structure is 1600 – 1700°C. Materials with interconnected porosity up to 85% and strength in compression up to 1.4 MPa were obtained.