Study on the effects of plasticizer on the properties of natural rubber

Abstract Binders are crucial for polymer‐bonded explosives (PBX), directly impacting their properties. While synthetic polymer binders perform well, their high cost limits large‐scale application. In contrast, natural rubber offers abundant availability and low cost as an alternative binder, significantly reducing preparation costs. This study employed molecular dynamics methods to systematically investigate the physical compatibility between natural rubber and various plasticizers. It also quantitatively analyzed how plasticizer content affects the glass transition temperature ( T g ) and mechanical properties. Results indicated that dioctyl sebacate (DOS) had the best compatibility with natural rubber. Furthermore, the system's T g decreased significantly with increasing plasticizer content. Both the bulk modulus (K) and shear modulus (G) decreased, though K's reduction was less pronounced than G's. This resulted in an increase in the K/G ratio and Poisson's ratio. This phenomenon indicates that plasticizers significantly enhance natural rubber's ductility by weakening intermolecular forces and reducing friction between molecular chains. Simultaneously, the lowered T g increases material flexibility, thereby improving impact resistance. This study provides valuable guidance for developing low‐cost, high‐performance PBX binder systems.