Fibre-Based Components Determining Handle/Skin Comfort in Fabrics Made from Dehaired and Non Dehaired Llama Fibre
Frank E.N., Hick M.V.H., Castillo M.F., Prieto, A; Adot O.G.

Abstract
The term 'handle' has to do with how soft a fabric feels when placed against the skin. It is also a fundamental attribute of Comfort. This paper shows that fibre-based determinants from yarns and fabrics can be used as predictors of comfort differences between dehaired and non dehaired Llama fibres. The differences the panellists can detect when comparing dehaired and non dehaired variables are: overall fibre diameter (1.01 μm in yarn and 1.55 μm in fabric surface); fibre diameter coefficient of variation (5.31% in yarn); fibres >30 μm (7.66% in yarn and fabric surface); coarse fibres by weight (3.23% in yarn and 4.57% in fabric surface); coarse fibre mean diameter (3.5 μm in yarn and 3.2 μm in fabric surface). These differences are explained by the diameter of the lattice medulated fibres; non medulated fibre diameter (on fabric surface); and lattice medulated fibre frequency (on fabric surface). These differences can be taken as a cut-off for each fibre based variable when discriminating objectionable from desirable fibres during dehairing.

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