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.

从长期耐久性和可靠性的角度来看，同时兼具高强度和韧性是弹性体的重要要求。不幸的是，这些性质在人造材料中通常是矛盾的。在目前的工作中，我们提出了一种可行的策略，可以通过以下方式构造3D隔离填料网络，从而同时增韧和增强弹性体一种简单的乳胶混合方法。制成的弹性体的特征在于，硬质氧化石墨烯（GO）纳米片和硫磺硫化天然橡胶（NR）的连续软基质的微观3D互连隔离网络。我们证明，相互连接的隔离填充物网络在变形时会优先破裂，因此在能量消散方面比分散填充物网络更为有效。因此，分离的填料网络对橡胶基体表现出更好的增强效果。而且，优异的能量耗散能力还通过释放裂纹尖端处的集中应力而有助于出色的裂纹扩展阻力。结果，同时提高了纳米复合材料的强度，韧性和抗疲劳性。