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Internal structure and pigment granules in colored alpaca fibers

journal contribution
posted on 2005-09-01, 00:00 authored by Huimin Wang, Xin Liu, Xungai Wang
Alpaca fibers have some distinct properties such as softness and warmth, which have not been fully understood in combination with the fiber internal structures. In the present investigation, the internal structures of alpaca fibers have been closely examined under the scanning electron microscope (SEM), especially in the longitudinal direction. The results showed that numerous pigment granules reside loosely inside pockets in brown and dark-brown alpaca fibers. These pigment granules were mainly distributed inside the cortical cells, the medullation regions as well as underneath the cuticles. Their size in the brown alpaca fibers was smaller and more uniformly round than in the dark-brown fibers. These granules in colored alpaca fibers loosen the bundle of cortical cells, providing many crannies in the fibers which may contribute to the superior flexibility, warmth and softness of the fibers. Moreover, there are no heavy metal elements found in the granules. The mordant hydrogen peroxide bleaching employed could eliminate the pigment granules and create many nano-volumes for further dyeing of fibers into more attractive colors.

History

Journal

Fibers and polymers

Volume

6

Issue

3

Pagination

263 - 268

Publisher

Korean Fiber Society

Location

Seoul, Korea

ISSN

1229-9197

eISSN

1875-0052

Language

eng

Notes

The original publication is available at springerlink.com.

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2005, Springer

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