Super Strong and Tough Elastomers Enabled by Sacrificial Segregated Network

The integration of high strength and toughness concurrently is a vital requirement for elastomers from the perspective of long-term durability and reliability. Unfortunately, these properties are generally conflicting in artificial materials. In the present work, we propose a facile strategy to simultaneously toughen and strengthen elastomers by constructing 3D segregated filler network via a simple latex mixing method. The as-fabricated elastomers are featured by a microscopic 3D interconnected segregated network of rigid graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and a continuous soft matrix of sulfur vulcanized natural rubber (NR). We demonstrate that the interconnected segregated filler network ruptures preferentially upon deformation, and thus is more efficient in energy dissipation than the dispersed filler network. Therefore, the segregated filler network exhibits better reinforcing effects for the rubber matrix. Moreover, the excellent energy dissipating ability also contributes to the outstanding crack growth resistance through the release of concentrated stress at the crack tip. As a result, the strength, toughness and fatigue resistance of the nanocomposites are concurrently enhanced. The methodology in this work is facile and universally applicable, which may provide new insights into the design of elastomers with both extraordinary static and dynamic mechanical performance for practical applications.