@article{Se Golpayegani_Brémaud_Thevenon_Pourtahmasi_Gril_2015, title={The effect of traditional hygro-thermal pretreatments on the acoustical characteristics of white mulberry wood (Morus alba)}, volume={17}, url={https://revistas.ubiobio.cl/index.php/MCT/article/view/2187}, abstractNote={The wood used in making musical instruments usually undergoes pre-treatments or conditioning. Some processes have resulted from laboratory research, while many treatments are applied by craftsmen using<br />traditional methods that have not yet been scientifically assessed. This paper is based on laboratory methods which simulate hydrothermal pre-treatments traditionally applied by Iranian lute makers to<br />mulberry (Morus alba), an important wood for lutes from the Middle East to Japan. By applying a cyclic process, drying (60°C) and ambient re-conditioning, which mimics wood seasoning and short-term<br />aging, the damping coefficient (tanδ) was decreased down to 10% without negatively affecting specific modulus of elasticity (E’/ρ). Long-term (up to 4 months) soaking in cold water removed extractives, and decreased density as well as E’/ρ, but did not affect tanδ. Short-term hot water treatment removed as many extractives, but caused a smaller decrease in E’/ρ than cold water, and significantly increased<br />tanδ. This paper helps to clarify some traditional processes used by instrument makers, and can provide a basis for necessary cross-cultural scientific studies in the future.}, number={4}, journal={Maderas-Cienc Tecnol}, author={Se Golpayegani, Aida and Brémaud, Iris and Thevenon, Marie-France and Pourtahmasi, Kambiz and Gril, Joseph}, year={2015}, month={Dec.}, pages={821–832} }