Research on the Acoustic Properties and Sustainable Development Path of Plant Tanned Leather in Musical Instrument Manufacturing

Ge Tian

Article
2025 / Volume 8 / Pages 1060-1073
Received 12 September 2025; Accepted 15 October 2025; Published 19 December 2025
https://doi.org/10.31881/TLR.2025.1060

Abstract
This study investigates the processing and performance of a traditional biopolymer-based fibrous material—animal hide—for specialized acoustic applications, addressing the demand for sustainable materials in musical instrument manufacturing. The research compares the chemical modification of goatskin’s collagen fiber network via vegetable tanning (VT) and chrome tanning (CT) to evaluate their effects on the material’s performance as an acoustic membrane. We characterized the structural and mechanical properties of the resulting fibrous materials, including apparent density, Young’s modulus, and tensile strength, and correlated these properties with acoustic performance. Using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectral analysis on twelve independent drumheads (N = 12), we quantified the vibrational behavior under both iso-frequency and iso-tension conditions. This dual-phase approach allowed for the isolation of material properties from mechanical tension effects. The results demonstrate that the vegetable tanning process yields a fibrous structure with higher stiffness and density, which exhibits stronger internal damping properties. This modification of the collagen matrix results in a distinct acoustic profile: a strong fundamental frequency, rapid decay of upper partials, and a shorter overall sustain (T60 decay time of 0.78 s versus 1.15 s for CT), producing a focused and articulate tone. Furthermore, a comparative analysis based on established Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) literature confirms that vegetable tanning is a more sustainable finishing technique, avoiding the heavy metal pollutants associated with CT leather. This research provides quantitative data to support vegetable-tanned fibrous materials not merely as an eco-friendly substitute, but as a distinct class of engineered biomaterial, offering a clear path for developing high-performance, sustainable products by controlling the properties of the collagen fiber network.

Keywords
vegetable tanning, collagen fibers, fibrous materials, material characterization, acoustic damping