Alpaca Fibre Structure and Characteristics
topic
Alpaca structure: keratin composition similar to wool but smoother scale structure (fewer, flatter scales—6-8 scales per 100 μm vs. 8-12 for wool), hollow fiber core (medulla) containing air pockets (providing exceptional insulation, 3× warmer than wool per unit weight), minimal crimp in Suri (straight, lustrous), moderate crimp in Huacaya (3-5 crimps/cm). Properties: tenacity 1.4-1.8 g/den (strong), elongation 25-40%, moisture regain 10-12% (lower than wool 16-18%, dries faster), density 1.29 g/cm³, thermal conductivity 0.04-0.05 W/(m·K) (excellent insulation), no lanolin (hypoallergenic, less greasy), water-repellent natural coating.
Role
Hollow fiber structure provides alpaca's warmth-to-weight advantage (lighter garments with equal warmth vs. wool), absence of lanolin makes processing simpler (less scouring, 80-90% yield vs. wool 50-70%) and creates hypoallergenic property appealing to wool-sensitive consumers, smooth scales reduce felting tendency but also reduce spinning cohesion.