Ph. D. Edgars Kuka

Scientific interests and competences

  • Production and testing of wood plastic composites
  • Products life cycle assessment (life cycle analysis)
  • Thermo-hygro treatment of wood
  • Enhancement of birch plywood surface properties with different methods
  • Combined wood treatment including thermal modification and impregnation
  • Determination of copper in wood

The most important projects

2017-2020 – ERDF project – Wood with improved service properties due to combination of thermal modification and impregnation (No. 1.1.1.1./16/A/133), research assistant. 2016-2018 – FSCC project – Wood based composites with improved properties (No. 1.2.1.1/16/A/009), research assistant. 2014-2017 – SRP project – Forest and earth entrails resources: research and sustainable utilization – new products and technologies (ResProd) (No. 2014.10-4/VPP-6/6), research assistant. 2014-2015 – ERDF project – Plywood from thermally modified veneer with improved durability properties (No. 2014/0018/2DP/2.1.1.1.0/14/APIA/VIAA/040), research assistant. 2012-2015 – FSCC project – Wood composite materials with improved properties (No. 4-06/32-P4), research assistant.

The most important publications

  • Cirule D.; Sansonetti E.; Andersone I.; Kuka E.; Andersons B.
    Enhancing thermally modified wood stability against discoloration

    Coatings, 2021, 11(1), 81, 1-13, doi: 10.3390/coatings11010081

  • Kuka E.; Andersons B.; Cirule D.; Andersone I.; Kajaks J.; Militz H.; Bicke S.
    Weathering properties of wood-plastic composites based on heat-treated wood and polypropylene

    Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2020, 139, 106102, doi: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2020.106102

  • Cirule D.; Verovkins A.; Andersone I.; Kuka E.; Andersons B.
    Thermally modified birch wood interaction with liquids

    European Journal of Wood and Wood Products, 2020, 78(5), 849-857, doi: 10.1007/s00107-020-01568-z

  • Andersone I.; Dobele G.; Andersons B.; Kurnosova N.; Kuka E.; Volperts A.; Grinins J.
    A study of thermo-hydro-treated (THT) birch wood by chemical analysis and Py-GC/MS

    Holzforschung, 2019, 73(7), 653-661, doi: 10.1515/hf-2018-0169

  • Kuka E.; Cirule D.; Andersone I.; Miklasevics Z.; Andersons B.
    Life cycle inventory for currently produced pine roundwood

    Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019, 235, 613-625, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.07.004

Edgars Kuka
Ph. D. Edgars Kuka
Laboratory of Wood Degradation and Protection
Researcher
edgars.kuka@kki.lv
ORCID: 0000-0002-4169-880X
Scopus Author ID: 56576352800
LinkedIn
Education
2022 – Doctor of Philosophy in Material Science (Ph.D.), Riga Technical University, Faculty of Material Science and Applied Chemistry.
2017 – Master of Engineering Science in Material Science (Mg.sc.ing.), Riga Technical University, Faculty of Material Science and Applied Chemistry.
2015 – Bachelor of Natural Sciences in Chemistry (B.sc.chem.), Riga Technical University, Faculty of Material Science and Applied Chemistry.