▎ 摘　　要

Graphene oxide was produced by the improved Hummers method and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Graphene oxide was incorporated up to 0.5 part per hundred rubber (phr) in natural rubber through traditional melt mixing and latex precompounding, respectively. Cure behavior of the sulfur-curable natural rubber/graphene oxide nanocomposites was studied in a Monsanto-type vulcameter. Properties of the nanocomposites were determined in dynamic mechanical analysis, static tensile (tensile and tear), and fracture mechanical (J-integral) tests. Unlike for latex precompounding, incorporation of graphene oxide accelerated the vulcanization and reduced its extent for the melt compounded series. Natural rubber/graphene oxide nanocomposites, produced by the latex route, outperformed the melt compounded versions with respect to the hardness, tensile mechanical and fracture mechanical performances. The properties of the former natural rubber/graphene oxide nanocomposites scattered less than those produced using block natural rubber via traditional compounding. The property improvements were attributed to a better dispersion (higher exfoliation and larger aspect ratio) of the graphene oxide layers after latex precompounding compared to the nanocomposites produced via direct melt mixing of block natural rubber.