Physical, chemical, and tensile properties of cashmere, mohair, alpaca, and other rare animal fibers

Abstract The chapter introduces animal fibers other than sheep wool. These fibers include cashmere, mohair, qiviut (musk ox), alpaca, llama, vicuna, guanaco, Bactrian camel, yak, bison, and angora (rabbit). Building on the information for wool in the previous chapter the differences in the chemical and physical properties of rare animal fibers are summarized. The importance of different cuticle scale properties and the presence of medulla on fiber properties such as lustre and friction, textile manufacturing especially dehairing, and textile quality are described. Tensile properties of raw fiber, dehaired slivers, tops, yarns, and fabrics are summarized particularly for mohair, cashmere, and alpaca. The effect of physical properties on the softness, feltability, and dyeing responses of these fibers are examined.