This invention discloses improvements that can be achieved in thermal or
mechanical performance of aerogel composites via densification. Densified
aerogels and aerogel composites can display higher compressive strength,
modulus, flexural strength, and maintains or insubstantially increases
the thermal conductivity relative to the pre-densified form. In the
special case of fiber reinforced aerogel composites densification via
mechanical compression can prove highly beneficial.