Propiedades físico -mecánicos de la fibra de alpaca utilizada en la trasformación artesanal

Abstract

The alpaca is a South American camelid that has high quality fiber. The objective of the research was to determine the physical-mechanical properties for the process of artisanal transformation. It is carried out in the communities producing this species such as; Galte Bisneag, Asaco, Peltetec, 20 de Agosto that are part of the World Vision Project and the Aña Moyocancha high altitude station of the ESPOCH, with a duration of 90 days. The methodology used had two approaches: field and laboratory; in the field, samples were taken from the midribs of 6 adult animals with full mouths and 2 complete fleeces/community. In the statistical analysis and significance tests a completely randomized design (CRD) with 6 replications was applied determining the physical parameters of the samples taken from the midrib (absolute length, diameter, number of fiber curls); and the 2 complete fleeces per community were transformed into yarn by applying the processes of sorting, shaking, washing, scutching and spinning. The yarns obtained were subjected to a DCA with 2 repetitions, evaluating the mechanical properties (tension and elongation). For the sensory analysis (feel, brightness and comfort factor), the Kruskal Wallis test was used, and the benefit/cost was also evaluated. The results of the analysis of the physical properties of the fiber showed highly significant differences between treatments, with the animals from the Asaco community standing out with a diameter of 18.69 µ, number of curls /cm of 6 and absolute length of 16.05 cm. For the mechanical properties in yarn, there were no statistical differences between the communities. The best results in the sensory analysis of the yarn were obtained by Asaco and Moyocancha with 4 / 5 points on the rated scale. The benefit/cost generated a profitability of 35% per kilo of yarn. It is recommended that the communities be encouraged to generate fiber industrialization processes.