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Wood-Based Materials Engineering Lab
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The lab studies the properties of the wood and reed cane used in musical instruments and develops alternative materials.
AboutAbout the lab
Research on materials used in musical instruments.
The Wood-Based Materials Engineering Lab studies biological materials such as the wood and reed cane used in musical instruments.
By understanding the properties of these materials accurately, the lab aims to contribute to making high-quality instruments and to stress-free playing.
Many of the woods used in instruments come from endangered species, so the lab is also developing alternative materials to replace them.
The findings from this research are expected to be applicable to the manufacture of building materials and the making of crafts.
Key terms
- Grenadilla (African blackwood)
- Wood used for the bodies of woodwind instruments. It is an endangered species, and alternative materials are needed
- Acetylation
- A treatment for the reed cane used in reeds. This lab discovered that it effectively suppresses allergic symptoms
- Seasoning (karashi)
- The process, lasting several years, that wood for instruments and crafts goes through before being worked. The changes in the wood and the mechanisms involved are still not well understood
NewsLab news
Research and development on materials for traditional Japanese instruments officially started
A paper that could lead to better harp soundboard performance was published in an international journal
A paper showing that acetylating reeds eliminates allergic reactions was published in an international journal
ResearchResearch themes
The lab investigates the properties of biological materials such as the wood and reed cane used in musical instruments, with the aim of contributing to the making of high-quality instruments and to stress-free playing. Many of the woods used in instruments come from endangered species, so the lab is also developing alternative materials to replace them.
*Illustrative imageAn Alternative to Grenadilla for Instrument Bodies
Grenadilla (African blackwood), used for the bodies of woodwind instruments, is an endangered species. The lab is developing resin-impregnated compressed laminated veneer lumber (CLVL) as a sustainable alternative material for instrument bodies.
*Illustrative imageArtificial Aging of Wood by Heat Treatment
Old instruments resonate well. The lab aims to freely control the aging of wood by heat-treating it at appropriate temperature and humidity. This is expected to be useful not only for making instruments but also for restoring cultural properties.
*Illustrative imageSuppressing Reed Cane Allergy with Acetylation
The reed cane used for woodwind reeds can, in rare cases, cause severe dermatitis. The lab found that a treatment called acetylation effectively suppresses the symptoms, and is now developing a safe, simple treatment method that players can carry out themselves.
*Illustrative imageClarifying the Mechanism of Seasoning (Karashi)
Wood for instruments and crafts is processed only after several years of "seasoning (karashi)," but the changes in the wood during that time and the mechanisms behind them are still not well understood. The lab aims to clarify the mechanism and establish methods to control it artificially.
MembersFaculty
- Associate ProfessorEiichi Obataya
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Roasted Figured Maple Guitar Neck Blanks” Stephen Ondich / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- An Alternative to Grenadilla for Instrument Bodies: “Clarinet (AM )” Buffet-Crampon & Cie / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Artificial Aging of Wood by Heat Treatment: “Phoenix-Musical Instrument Museum-India Musical Instrument” Marine 69-71 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Suppressing Reed Cane Allergy with Acetylation: “Reed beds - River Nadder at Harnham” Col.51 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Clarifying the Mechanism of Seasoning (Karashi): “Photograph of Rough Sawn Hardwood Lumber Piled for Air Drying - NARA - 2128888” 作者不詳 / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Biomaterial Chemistry Lab): “Biomass drying in the sun” GIZ Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Plant Breeding Lab): “Cucumis melo - Диня - Український сорт Забавка” Zenon Sych / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Biomimetic Chemistry Lab): “Chemistry laboratory2” Cjp24 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Bioresource Process Engineering Lab): “Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant - digester eggs - Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York” Netherzone / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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