Synergistic Bioinspired Interface and Segregated Graphene Oxide Networks Enabling Enhanced Mechanical Strength and Chemical Resistance in Natural Rubber Latex Composites

Xiao-Da Pan; Yun-Kui Song; Chong-Zhi Sun; Chao-Yang Yuan; Zong-Min Zhu; Jia-Ran Wang; Xian-Ze Yin; Hong-Tao Liu; Li Liu; Long Zheng

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3580-2

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Synergistic Bioinspired Interface and Segregated Graphene Oxide Networks Enabling Enhanced Mechanical Strength and Chemical Resistance in Natural Rubber Latex Composites

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-03-26

- Synergistic Bioinspired Interface and Segregated Graphene Oxide Networks Enabling Enhanced Mechanical Strength and Chemical Resistance in Natural Rubber Latex Composites
- Synergistic Bioinspired Interface and Segregated Graphene Oxide Networks Enabling Enhanced Mechanical Strength and Chemical Resistance in Natural Rubber Latex Composites
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 2026年44卷第4期页码：1186-1198
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Hubei Key Laboratory for New Textile Materials and Applications, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
  b.State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
  c.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 102202, China
- Author bio：
  
  lht@wtu.edu.cn (H.T.L.)
  liul@mail.buct.edu.cn (L.L.)
  lzheng@wtu.edu.cn (L.Z.)
- Funds：
  
  This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52303063).;The authors declare no interest conflict.Data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3580-2
  中图分类号：
- 收稿：2025-11-13，
  
  录用：2026-01-17，
  
  网络首发：2026-03-10，
  
  纸质出版：2026-04-05
- Accepted：
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Pan, X. D.; Song, Y. K.; Sun, C. Z.; Yuan, C. Y.; Zhu, Z. M.; Wang, J. R.; Yin, X. Z.; Liu, H. T.; Liu, L.; Zheng, L. Synergistic bioinspired interface and segregated graphene oxide networks enabling enhanced mechanical strength and chemical resistance in natural rubber latex composites. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1186–1198

Xiao-Da Pan, Yun-Kui Song, Chong-Zhi Sun, et al. Synergistic Bioinspired Interface and Segregated Graphene Oxide Networks Enabling Enhanced Mechanical Strength and Chemical Resistance in Natural Rubber Latex Composites[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(4): 1186-1198.
Pan, X. D.; Song, Y. K.; Sun, C. Z.; Yuan, C. Y.; Zhu, Z. M.; Wang, J. R.; Yin, X. Z.; Liu, H. T.; Liu, L.; Zheng, L. Synergistic bioinspired interface and segregated graphene oxide networks enabling enhanced mechanical strength and chemical resistance in natural rubber latex composites. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 1186–1198 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3580-2.

Xiao-Da Pan, Yun-Kui Song, Chong-Zhi Sun, et al. Synergistic Bioinspired Interface and Segregated Graphene Oxide Networks Enabling Enhanced Mechanical Strength and Chemical Resistance in Natural Rubber Latex Composites[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(4): 1186-1198. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3580-2.

摘要

A mussel-inspired interfacial regulation strategy was developed by designing a catechol- and thiol-containing tannic acid-based modifier (TM) agent that induces graphene oxide (GO) to self-assemble on natural rubber (NR) latex particles into a segregated network

while Eu

coordination synergistically reinforces the interface. This struc

ture markedly promotes NR strain-induced crystallization and enhances mechanical

barrier

antibacterial

and chemical-resistant properties.

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR) latex is a renewable colloidal dispersion used in medical gloves

coatings

and flexible products. It is known for its excellent elasticity and film-forming ability but is limited by insufficient mechanical robustness and chemical resistance. Incorporating nanofillers

such as graphene oxide (GO)

is an effective approach to enhance its performance; however

achieving strong interfacial compatibility between hydrophilic GO and the nonpolar rubber matrix remains challenging. To overcome this issue

a multifunctional interf

acial design inspired by mussel adhesion chemistry was developed to construct a hierarchical and cohesive GO network within the NR latex matrix. A tannic acid-based modifier (TM) bearing catechol and thiol groups was synthesized and anchored onto latex particles

via

hydrogen bonding with surface proteins and phospholipids

enabling subsequent

–

interactions and hydrogen bonding with GO nanosheets. This guided the selective self-assembly of GO into a continuous segregated network along the latex particle boundaries. Hierarchical interface reinforcement was achieved through Eu

ligand coordination. The incorporation of GO and enhancement of interfacial interactions promoted strain-induced crystallization

resulting in increased crystallinity and improved load transfer. The resulting composite film containing 0.5 part per hundred rubber GO and the bioinspired interface exhibited a tensile strength that was 107.8% higher than that of the pure NR latex film

while maintaining an elongation at break of 915%. Tear strength increased by 118.5%

toughness reached 61.7 MJ/m

nitrogen permeability decreased by 20.1%

and antibacterial efficiency against both

Escherichia coli

and

Staphylococcus aureus

reached 99.9%. The films also exhibited enhanced resistance to organic solvents

acids

and alkalis. This study provides a green and scalable strategy for fabricating high-performance NR latex-based products suitable for medical

protective

and engineering applications.

关键词

Keywords

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