Eco-friendly elastomers: The advancement of XNBR/gelatin based green blends

This study investigates eco-friendly green blends of carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber, gelatin, and silanized silica in response to environmental concerns over polymeric waste disposal. Increasing gelatin content significantly enhances the blends' mechanical properties, including tear and tensile strength, with notable increases at 20 phr gelatin. These blends also exhibit impressive thermal stability and improved resistance to UV-induced degradation. The addition of gelatin biopolymer and silanized silica significantly improved the blends' mechanical and morphological properties, resulting in increased stiffness. As gelatin concentration increased, a shift from ductile to brittle fracture behavior was observed. Furthermore, the introduction of gelatin significantly enhanced the biodegradability of the blends, making them more prone to degradation when exposed to atmospheric conditions.