Abstract

This work presents ionically vulcanized carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) compounds reinforced with conventional and sustainable fillers. The impact of adding traditional fillers, such as carbon black and silica, as well as sustainable options, such as cellulose and ground tire rubber from end-of-life tires (GTR), on the rubber's mechanical, thermal, self-healing, and recyclability properties is carefully analyzed. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of sustainable fillers achieves a favorable balance between repairability, recyclability, and mechanical performance. In particular, the compound with GTR exhibits reinforcement levels comparable to those of silica-based compounds, while maintaining full reprocessing and repairability. This study highlights the potential of using sustainable and recycled materials in the rubber industry, significantly contributing to the development of environmentally friendly elastomeric compounds.