Super Strong and Tough Elastomers Enabled by Sacrificial Segregated Network
- PDF / 518,492 Bytes
- 10 Pages / 595.35 x 842 pts (A4) Page_size
- 19 Downloads / 197 Views
ARTICLE
POLYMER SCIENCE
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-020-2484-9 Chinese J. Polym. Sci.
Super Strong and Tough Elastomers Enabled by Sacrificial Segregated Network Yong Zhu, Lai-Yun Wei, Xuan Fu, Jun-Qi Zhang, Ling-Min Kong, Guang-Su Huang*, and Jin-Rong Wu* State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Abstract 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. Keywords Elastomers; Nanocomposites; Segregated network; Sacrificial bonds; Mechanical properties Citation: Zhu, Y.; Wei, L. Y.; Fu, X.; Zhang, J. Q.; Kong, L. M.; Huang, G. S.; Wu, J. R. Super strong and tough elastomers enabled by sacrificial segregated network. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-020-2484-9
INTRODUCTION Elastomers, as a type of soft materials with the ability to perform large and reversible deformation, are acknowledged to be strategically indispensable materials owing to their extensive applications in various fields, such as gloves, tires, seals, etc.[1−4] However, the complicated and harsh working environments in practical applications highly require sufficient tensile strength, toughness and fatigue resistance of elastomers to ensure longterm durability and reliability. Nevertheless, achieving a combination of these properties in artificial elastomers is exceedingly difficult. It has been revealed that a critical strategy to improve the mechanical properties of materials is to enhance their energy dissipation ability under external loading.[5−7] To date, several methodologies have been explored to increase the energy dissipation of elastomers. The most notab
Data Loading...
