The effect of epoxidation on strain‐induced crystallization (SIC) of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and mechanism are studied with synchrotron radiation wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (SR‐WAXD) and polarized infrared spectroscopy (P‐IR). WAXD results reveal that appropriate epoxidation, for example, ENR‐25 epoxidized with ≈25% isoprene units, can unexpectedly enhance the SIC of natural rubber (NR), resulting in the improvement of tear resistance. On the other hand, exorbitant epoxidation, for example, ENR‐40 epoxidized with ≈40% isoprene units, depresses the SIC and weakens the mechanical properties of NR remarkably. P‐IR studies reveal that epoxidation can promote the orientation of chain segments along the stretching direction, which plays a determining role on SIC of NR. Accordingly, hierarchical multiscale schematic models are proposed. This insight into epoxidation on SIC of ENR strongly suggests that ENR with appropriate epoxidation degree is a promising candidate material for the fabrication of high‐performance engineering rubber products.
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