alpaca

The concept of alpaca It has different meanings according to its etymological root. When the term comes from Aymara all-paka, alludes to a animal Originally from the American continent, whose hair is highly valued for making various textile products.

Scientific name Vicugna pacos, the alpaca is a mammal that belongs to the group of artiodactyls, since they support at least two of their fingers on the ground. Alpacas, on the other hand, are part of the family of the camelids, more precisely from the tribe Lamini (Like llamas, vicuñas and guanacos).

The alpaca lives in the Andean region, especially in the puna and in other high plateaus. Most of the specimens are found in Peru, although alpacas can also be found in certain regions of chili, Bolivia, Argentina Y Ecuador.

Like camels and llamas, alpacas they spit when they want to defend themselves or as a mechanism of aggression. These animals can measure about a meter and weigh up to seventy kilograms. As for the textile use of their hair, it is used to make scarves, ponchos and blankets, among others. products.

The characteristics that can be seen externally in its fiber allow us to differentiate two races: the huacaya, in which the fiber growth occurs perpendicular to its body, with a spongy appearance and relatively short locks; the suri, whose fiber grows parallel to the body, with curlers on its entire surface, which is shiny and silky.

Alpaca, on the other hand, is the name given to a alloy formed by nickel, copper Y zinc. Due to its brightness and its tonality, alpaca is similar to silver and is used for the production of coins, surgical instruments, elements for musical instruments and costume jewelery (bijouterie). According to their composition, it is possible to differentiate between alpacas of different qualities.

The name that this alloy originally received is maillechort, although it has also been called german silver, alfénido, argentán, new silver Y white metal. The proportions of the different elements that make up alpaca are the following: between 8 and 45 percent zinc; 45 to 70 percent copper; between 8 and 20 percent nickel.

When the nickel silver contains a percentage of copper greater than 60, it is spoken of single phase alloy and stands out for being very easy to work at room temperature and for its great ductility. Furthermore, it is possible to achieve considerable resistance to corrosive media by combining it with nickel; so much so that the percentage of the latter is a determining factor of the quality of the alpaca, and in this context it is possible to distinguish three different grades: first quality, with 22% nickel; second quality, when it contains 11%; third quality, if it only reaches 6%.

Alpaca as an alloy is a discovery of two French chemists called Chorier and Maillot, and dates from the year 1819, hence its original name was a combination of these two surnames. His work was aimed at finding a material very similar to silver for the manufacture of utensils such as cutlery and other table elements that are typically made of silver.

At present, nickel silver is used to make various articles, among which are the following: tableware, zippers, keys to musical instruments (such as the oboe), religious figures, straws called light bulbs (an Argentine drink called mate uses these particular products), coins, and guitar frets (each strip of metal which is located on the neck of the instrument at a certain distance so that when pressing the strings between them a certain sound is produced).