(EN) The invention concerns a silicon carbide foam for use as a catalyst support, with high specific surface area of at least 5 m2/g and improved mechanical properties, in particular compressive strength more than 0.2 MPa's; it is obtained by impregnating an organic foam with a silicon suspension in a resin to which a hardening agent has been added, incomplete cross-linking of the resin, carbonising the organic foam and the resin and carburizing the silicon.