Relations between the characteristics of Angora rabbit fibre

Angora rabbit fibre is one of the finest specialty animal fibres with its well-known reputation for fineness, lightness and softness. This study evaluated the Angora fibre shape and morphology in comparison with Cashmere fibre and wool as well as the relation between characteristics of Angora fibre. Unlike other keratinous textile fibres, single Angora fibre composes of two sections named as body and head, each of which has individual surface characteristics. Differences between the scale shapes, scale length and scale frequency of Angora hair types were explained in details. Medullation in Angora fibre was explained for different types of Angora hairs defined as down, awn and bristle. This classification was done according to the fibre fineness starting from the finer one. Relation between fibre shape and comfort factor was also analyzed. The relation between mean fibre diameter (MFD), fibre curvature (FC) and percentage of medullation by volume (MEDV) for Angora rabbit fibre was not as strong as wool and Cashmere fibre. Accordingly, when Angora hair types were analyzed individually, it was observed that relation between FC and MEDV for Angora fibre was stronger than wool and Cashmere fibre. Multiple regression analysis was also performed. Diameter distribution along the snippet length (about 200µm) of Angora fibre is uneven compared to Cashmere fibre and wool.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]