Conceptual description of the llama fleece structure and the potential of classing and dehairing

Abstract

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.

Development of Calibration Models to Predict Mean Fibre Diameter in Llama (Lama glama) Fleeces with Near Infrared Spectroscopy

“…In this section, reference data obtained was compared with analyses of llama, alpaca and sheep wool. The MFD mean value shown in Table 1 [11]. Moreover, the minimum (17.82 µm) and maximum (37.71 µm) values were slightly different than values reported by Laime Huarcaya et al [45] for Peruvian llamas (16.18 µm and 41.42µm) and 16.4 µm and 34.2 µm reported by Canaza-Cayo et al [13] in alpaca fibres.…”

“…This is due to its physicochemical composition such as keratin structures [7], morphology and fleece conformation (fibres that constitute a fleece are highly entangled) [8] and the presence of extraneous particles such as plant debris, dust, sand, etc. Numerous methods are used by the textile industry for fibre refinement [9] and fibre carding is considered essential in the early stages of this process since it is used for cleaning, untangling and homogenising the fleeces [10,11].…”

Untitled

“…When the same conceptual approach is taken from another previous work [5], but the biplot drawing of Figure 3 is superimposed on it, Figure 4 is obtained with real staple photos of the of dissected types of fleece. However, what Figure 4 shows, does not fully agree with the conceptual separation made by Brodtman et al [5], in which IC is considered as intermediate between DC and SC, which is not verified in this work, where SC and IC are variants of the same type of fleece. The location in the same quadrant of HL and L is totally coincident with what she draws in that work [5] (Figure 4).…”

“…The types of cover or types of fleece have been identified in various species and breeds [1] and described in various works in cashmere-producing criollo goats [2], in alpacas [3] and in argentine Llamas [4,5]. The types of fleeces are made up of different types of fibers and at different frequencies within fiber types, in Llamas of Argentina [4].…”

“…This has been amply demonstrated when confronted by separation fleece types in relation to dehairing process [5]. The types of fleece behave differently to the dehairing, which has been reflected in a difference in linear density and regularity of the obtained yarn.…”