For an overall description of llama fiber, its fleece structure and differences between fleece types are illustrated schematically, defined through a resumed evaluation, and determined as a compound of different fiber types. A dissection method is described and 252 samples of llama fleeces were dissected forming three fiber groups, within which fine, medium, and coarse fibers are gathered separately and, therefore, a dehairing process is simulated. Taking the group of fine fibers as a reference for the product to be obtained by dehairing, an average dehairing yield of 69% was calculated, which varies depending on the fineness of the fleece. The following fiber attributes were analyzed: fiber diameter, fiber length, crimp frequency, and crimp type. These were evaluated within fiber groups and among fleece types. The process of fleece classing regarding fineness is simulated through successively excluding coarse fleeces when evaluating the results. As a step previous to dehairing, and in order to assemble the most homogenous raw material, the necessity of fleece classing regarding fineness and type was confirmed. Fleece classing regarding fineness including only fleeces with a total mean fiber diameter lower than 28 µm and a subsequent dehairing process resulted in a mean of 21.6 µm for the group of fine fibers, with 96% of the fleeces with a mean fiber diameter of the group of fine fibers lower than 25 µm and 61% lower than 22 µm. We conclude that this segment of fine fibers reflects the potential of llama fiber as a textile raw material.

The dehairing process is a fiber cleaning process and consists of separating objectionable coarse fibers and plant and mineral contaminants from the fine fibers as efficiently as possible. This efficiency is determined by the fiber type removal/retention rate (RR) and the fiber length shortening rate (FL). Up the present, in fiber from Llamas and Alpacas, the dehairing yield (R%) has been used as a commercial evaluation of the efficiency of the process. Efficiency is of greater commercial importance because it reflects the amount of desirable fiber that is actually obtained after the cleaning process has been performed. It also allows comparing technologies, number of passages and process costs. The objective of this work is to determine the efficiency of Llama and Huacaya Alpaca fiber dehairing carried out by AM2 technology based on the retention/removal (RR) and shortening (FL), taking into consideration different types of fibers (GF), types of fleece (TV), using methodology used in other fibersusing methodology and variables from studies with other fibers. The dehairing efficiency of the AM2 technology is similar in Llama and Alpaca fiber and slightly better than a similar technology used in cashmere fiber in Australia. In general efficiency fluctuates between 74-94%, in terms of desirable fine fiber recovery, for the textile process of these fibers. The variable defined as the fiber type removal/retention rate, is usable to correctly evaluate the fiber dehairing process of Llamas and Alpacas.

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