A method of manufacturing a fuser member is described. The method includes obtaining a substrate and coating a composition of an anhydride capped polyamic acid oligomer, a multi-amine and a solvent on the substrate to form a polyimide gel layer on the substrate. The solvent is extracted from the polyimide gel layer with an extraction solvent. The extraction solvent is removed to form a polyimide aerogel layer having a porosity of from about 50 percent to about 95 percent. A fluoropolymer is coated on the polyimide aerogel layer and cured or melted to form a release layer.