Department of Chemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Department of Optics and Photonics, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2021 Aug 23;60(35):19144-19154. doi: 10.1002/anie.202105252. Epub 2021 Jun 27.
We investigated the material properties of Cremonese soundboards using a wide range of spectroscopic, microscopic, and chemical techniques. We found similar types of spruce in Cremonese soundboards as in modern instruments, but Cremonese spruces exhibit unnatural elemental compositions and oxidation patterns that suggest artificial manipulation. Combining analytical data and historical information, we may deduce the minerals being added and their potential functions-borax and metal sulfates for fungal suppression, table salt for moisture control, alum for molecular crosslinking, and potash or quicklime for alkaline treatment. The overall purpose may have been wood preservation or acoustic tuning. Hemicellulose fragmentation and altered cellulose nanostructures are observed in heavily treated Stradivari specimens, which show diminished second-harmonic generation signals. Guarneri's practice of crosslinking wood fibers via aluminum coordination may also affect mechanical and acoustic properties. Our data suggest that old masters undertook materials engineering experiments to produce soundboards with unique properties.
我们使用了一系列广泛的光谱学、显微镜学和化学技术来研究克雷莫纳音板的材料特性。我们发现克雷莫纳音板中的云杉类型与现代乐器中的相似，但克雷莫纳云杉表现出非自然的元素组成和氧化模式，这表明它们经过了人为的处理。结合分析数据和历史信息，我们可以推断出添加的矿物质及其潜在功能——硼砂和金属硫酸盐用于抑制真菌，食盐用于控制水分，明矾用于分子交联，碳酸钾或生石灰用于碱性处理。其总体目的可能是木材保存或声学调整。在经过大量处理的斯特拉迪瓦里样本中观察到半纤维素的碎片化和纤维素纳米结构的改变，这表明二次谐波产生信号减弱。瓜奈里通过铝配位交联木材纤维的做法也可能影响机械和声学性能。我们的数据表明，老一辈大师进行了材料工程实验，以生产具有独特特性的音板。
