Provided is a method for manufacturing a fixed abrasive material suitable for use in CMP planarization pads from an aqueous polymer dispersion that also includes abrasive particles that involves frothing the polymer dispersion, applying the froth to a substrate, mold or carrier and curing the froth to form a fixed abrasive material having an open cell structure containing between about 5 and 85 wt % abrasive particles and a dry density of about 350 kg/m.sup.3 to 1200 kg/m.sup.3.