Abstract. The growth of requirements for the quality and performance of materials used for the construction of ship premises indicates the need to create new types of heat-insulating and structural and finishing products that can provide the stability of operational properties in a wide temperature range, high aesthetics and environmental safety. One of the means of providing these requirements is the use of non-flammable and non-toxic heat-insulating materials of increased strength during a fire. The processes of interaction between the components, the structure and phase composition of the obtained materials studied using complex X-ray phase, IR spectroscopic, and electron-optical methods of analysis. The main estimated quality indicators of the manufactured samples were taken: material density, thermal conductivity, ultimate strength in static bending, water absorption, also flammability and fire resistance, which determined in accordance with the current state standard and international ISO standards. The determination of the basic recipe composition of the raw mixture and the influence of technological parameters on the strength characteristics of the composite material was carried out using the method of mathematical planning of the experiment. The results obtained made it possible to fairly accurately outline the boundaries of variation of the composition of the vermiculite-silicate presscomposition and the main technological parameters. The results of the studies carried out correlate with the indicators of the physical, mechanical and technical properties of the varieties of the modified material, which makes it possible to purposefully search for the optimal composition and technological modes of manufacturing heat-insulating material for shipbuilding purposes. Using the methods of X-ray structural and electron-optical analysis, infrared spectroscopy, it has been established that as a result of heat treatment of the vermiculate-silicate presscomposition, complex physicochemical processes occur. It was found that in the system vermiculate–liquid glass –hardener, the chemical interaction of Al2O3 of vermiculate with liquid glass occurs with the formation of aluminosilicates. Additional crystallization at the vermiculite-water glass interface causes the formation of an intermediate layer of products, which prevents the occurrence of tension. The main regularities of directed synthesis in the system vermiculate–binder–hardener of neoplasms characterized by high strength and thermal stability in a wide temperature range have been studied. The optimal ratios of the main recipe components (vermiculate–binder–hardener), also a certain influence of water repellents, modifiers and reinforcing components on the processes of interaction between components, phase composition and structure of the composite have been determined.