Due to this unique structure angora wool has very high insulating capacity. Angora wool is eight times warmer than an equal amount of sheep wool.
Unlike the homogenous sheep wool the angora wool is heterogenous, that means it consists of 3 different hair types:
Guard hair: They are the longest hairs and project over the full fleece.
Guard down: They have a thickness of 0,01-0,03 mm at the shaft and 0,05-0,08 mm at the top. Guard hair and guard down form a protective covering for the fleece.
Down: This is the prevailing hair type. At least 75% of the wool is down hair (French type angora breed!). They are very soft and have a high degree of crimp. Their thickness is 0,01-0,015 mm. The finest sheep's wool (Merino) has a thickness of 0,016-0,018 mm.
| Under the microscope a longitudinal cross-section of a down fiber shows the central hollow space that is subdivided into chambers. |
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Due to this unique structure angora wool has very high insulating capacity. Angora wool is eight times warmer than an equal amount of sheep wool. |
| Angora wool has an electromagnetic capacity like a cat's fur and may help with rheumatism. |
Angora wool and allergy: Only the saliva of the rabbit causes allergies. Simply wash the finished yarn to prevent allergetic reactions.
© Ursula + Pascal Glauser 28. January 2006
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