Modified Wood of Black Locust - Alternative to Honduran Rosewood in the Production of Xylophones

A. Danihelováa, M. Čulík b, M. Němec c, M. Gejdoš d and Z. Danihelová e aDepartment of Fire Protection, Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovakia bTechnical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovakia cDepartment of Physics, Electrical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovakia dDepartment of Forest Harvesting, Logistics and Ameliorations, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovakia eThe Institute of Foreign Languages, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovakia

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Traditionally, exotic hardwoods are used for the production of xylophone or concert marimba. Mainly the Honduran rosewood shows the optimal properties (high density, high modulus of elasticity, speed of sound, hardness, low damping) considering the required acoustic quality of the xylophone. The Honduran rosewood is listed in CITES Appendix II, therefore it is necessary to look for possibilities of its replacement by other wood species. However, the density, hardness and strength properties of the European wood species are rated less than Honduran rosewood. Therefore it is clear that there is a need to search for alternative of exotic wood. Our research indicates that the Honduran rosewood can be replaced by European wood species; However it is necessary to modify their properties. As convenient modification of domestic wood species appear: mechanical modification (densification), thermal modification or a combination of these two methods. Thus we can obtain wood with properties similar to the properties of exotic wood. The study presents the comparison of physical and acoustical characteristics of modified wood of Black locust with the characteristics of the Honduran rosewood. Also, the sound quality of xylophone made from Black locust wood before and after modification was investigated.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.127.106 PACS numbers: 43.20.Ks, 83.80.Mc