Abstract
This work aims at studying the several divers properties (Physico-mechanical, biological and chemical) of white Mulberry (Morus alba L.), as the leading material used in fabrication of Iranian lutes. The vibrational characteristic of this species is measured in relation with secondary metabolites (extractives) as well as three artisanal hygro-thermal treatments adapted to laboratory scale. White Mulberry wood is characterized with a moderate specific modulus, less than expected damping and a low anisotropy between three directions. It is specified that this species cannot be described with the same standards as other woods used in European classical instruments. Using independent and successive extractions reveal that two types of extraneous compounds govern the damping in this wood, some raising it, when the rest have a decreasing effect. These compounds are not all extractable by the same solvents. Long time immersion in water at ambient temperature hardly changes mechanical properties of the species, however, it can leave wood with irreversible defects. Hot water treatment at 70°C results for damping and moduli to be increased and decreased respectively. These changes are time related. Several mild desorption and adsorption cycles, seem to reduce damping without greatly endangering the moduli. White Mulberry wood is found to be very durable towards fungi, even in extreme conditions. Water leaching seems to be affectless on this species resistance towards basidiomycetes. This wood is rated moderately durable towards termites and becomes sensible after water leaching. Extractives seem to play important role in this wood natural resistance, as they are found to have toxic effect on termites. Resorcinol, a phenol, is the leading compound in the extractives of white Mulberry. Fatty acids, sterols, higher hydrocarbons, and aromatic compounds are also found as the constituents of secondary metabolites. Resorcinol is documented to cause irritations close to what is normally experienced by the fabricants working with white Mulberry for a long time.