Patent ID: 8637582

Claim:
A method for improving the mechanical strength of aerogels, including: forming an aerogel precursor, the aerogel precursor including: a matrix material comprising at least one polymer having at least one functional group capable of undergoing a crosslinking reaction, wherein the at least one functional group is chosen from hydroxyl, isocyanate, amine, and epoxy groups; a liquid dispersion medium for dispersing the matrix material; and a crosslinking agent reactable with the at least one functional group of the at least one polymer, wherein the crosslinking agent comprises a dicarboxylic acid; freezing the aerogel precursor to solidify the dispersion medium; freeze drying the aerogel precursor to sublime the dispersion medium and form the aerogel; and reacting the crosslinking agent with the at least one functional group of the at least one polymer to effect crosslinking of the formed aerogel after freeze-drying.