Textile characteristics of the fiber to manual and mechanical dehairing in vicuña fleece (Vicugna vicugna mensalis)

Abstract

The objective was to determine the variation of the textile characteristics of the fiber when manual and mechanical dehairing of the vicuña fleece, and also determine the initial and final weight of the fleece, and of the soil, bristles, losses, and also determine the time and performance of manual and mechanical dehairing. 20 vicuña fleeces from the National University of Huancavelica, Peru, were chosen at random. 10 for manual dehairing and 10 for mechanical dehairing, manual dehairing was carried out by a master dehairer and mechanical dehairing was carried out by a Ramella carder, from which 40 total samples were obtained before and after manual and mechanical dehairing. To determine the textile characteristics of the fiber, they were evaluated with the Electronic Fiber Characterizer (CEF) called Fiber EC vs 4.1. And through analysis of variance and t test. The quality of dehaired fibers is superior to that of non-dehaired fiber, due to the reduction in the mean fiber diameter (MFD) then. By not dehairing and manual dehairing, the DMF was reduced by -1.35µm and the FC was improved by 0.61% and the FH was reduced by - 1.68µm and the LM increased by 0.66 cm. While with no dehairing and mechanical dehairing, the DMF was reduced by -0.96μm and the HR was improved by 0.69% and the FH was reduced by - 1.65µm and the LM increased by 1.92cm. In conclusion, manual and mechanical dehairing reduces the average fiber diameter and improves the comfort factor and the spinning factor.