Formation and Characterization of Hollow Microtubes by Thermal Treatment of Human Hair

In this study, researchers prepared hollow microtubes by thermally treating human hair waste at temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 °C. They analyzed the thermal decomposition of hair using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and examined the structure and morphology of the microtubes with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SEM) and elemental analysis (EA). The decomposition began at the core medulla around 250 °C, with further heating leading to the degradation of the cortex and a decrease in wall thickness. The final hollow microtube structure had a compact and smooth cuticle layer. The adsorption capacity of these microtubes was tested using n-hexane and water.