Abstract
The main objective of this study is to analyze the use of tobacco stalk to develop new composite materials. For this purpose, tests and analyses were carried out to characterize the morphological, thermal, and chemical properties, as well as to obtain structural information about this plant waste. Morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermogravimetry (TGA) was used to analyze mass loss and temperature degradation. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was applied to determine the chemical composition. SEM showed the presence of filling components such as parenchyma and vascular elements of the xylem. FTIR showed the presence of elements such as absorbed water and primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols identified in cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, and carboxylic acids, among other substances. TGA showed cellulose degradation temperature between 250 and 350 °C. The test results indicate that tobacco stalks can be used to develop composite materials as fillers.
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