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There has been a lot of R&D on the development of synthetic semi-hollow fiber. The reason is fairly simple. A hollow core fiber weighs less than the same diameter solid core and because air is trapped in the core, the fabric warms up very quickly. As a result all outdoor enthusiasts know that apparel made from hollow fiber tends to be lightweight and much warmer than their solid core equivalents. Alpaca is a natural semi-hollow fiber with a fineness that matches many of the micro-fiber synthetics. It's really difficult to walk into any outdoor shop today and pick up a product that is not advertising moisture wicking properties. Wicking and absorbing moisture are two differnt things. Absorbing moisture is what a sponge does. It keeps taking in moisture until it becomes saturated and the whole sponge feels wet. Wicking is when the fabic transports moisture away from its source to the outside of a fabric where it is able to evaporate. Wool and cotton are very absorbent but do not have very good wicking properties, which is wht many people complain that their feet sweat or feel wet in wool or cotton socks. Alpaca on the other hand, has low moisture absorbency with great wicking properties resulting in better comfort and warmth. Unlike wool, alpaca fleece contains no lanolin, and requires no chemical-scouring agents for processing. This, combined with its natural hypoallergenic properties and softness, makes alpaca garments comfortable, even for sensitive skin. The softness of Alpaca over wool of the same micron count is due to a scale height of .4 micron for Alpaca versus .8 micron for wool. If you compare an alpaca fiber to a wool fiber under a microscope, you will find the surface of the alpaca fiber will be smooth where the wool fiber will appear to have scales. The lower scale height creates a smoother, slippery feel with a less scratchy surface. Alpaca has a much less prickle factor than wool of the same fineness due to flatter scales on the alpaca fiber. |