Education

2020 - Doctor of Science (Ph.D) in Chemical Technology; chemical engineering Riga Technical University, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Institute of Polymer Materials 2012 - Master of engineering sciences in chemical engineering (Mg.sc.ing.), chemical engineering; Riga Technical University, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Institute of Polymer Materials

Scientific interests and competence

Expertise in development of high efficiency rigid polyurethane foam thermal insulation from sustainable raw materials, like vegetable oils, tall oil and recycled PET. Experiment design, material testing, result analysis and data interpretation. Funding attraction.

The most important projects

2020-022 - LCS FARP - Elimination of Rigid PU Foam Thermal Insulation Shortcomings by Determining and Adjusting the Factors Influencing Gas Permeability of Polymer Matrix (PURGE) (Nr. lzp-2019/1-0354), researcher 2018-2021 - M-ERA.Net 2 - Development of Biobased Cryogenic Insulation Modified with Nanocrystalline Cellulose (Bio4Cryo) (Nr. 1.1.1.5/ERANET/18/03), researcher 2018-2020 - LCS FARP - Forest industry by-product transformation into valueable bio-polyols using advanced heteregeneous phase biocatalyst and characterization of the process kinetics (FORinPOL) (Nr. Izp-2018/2-0020), researcher 2017-2019 - ERDF - Rigid polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foam thermal insulation material reinforced with nano/micro size cellulose ( Nr. 1.1.1.1/16/A/031), researcher 2014-2015 - ERDF - Development of innovative polyols and polyol systems from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flakes and renewable raw materials (Nr.2014/0043/2DP/2.1.1.1.0/14/APIA/VIAA/063), research assistant 2012-2016 - 7th Framework Programme - The Electric Vehicle revOLUITON enabled by advanced materials highly hybridized into lightweight components for easy integration and dismantling providing a reduced life cycle cost logic (EVOLUTION) (Grant Agreement Nr.314744), research assistant 2008-2012 - 7th Framework Programme - Forest Resource Sustainability through Bio-Based-Composite Development (The FORBIOPLAST) (Grant agreement ID: 212239), laboratory assistant

More information

2018 – “Top Achievements in Science” in Latvia in 2017. Applied science category with “Wide range of thermal insulation materials from renewable and recycled raw materials” by Dr, U.Stirna, Dr. U.Cabulis, Dr. V.Yakushin, Mg.sc.ing. M.Kirpluks, Mg.sc.ing. A.Fridrihsone, Latvian Academy of Sciences. 2017 - Polymer Processing Society Young Researcher Travel Award for 2017 - PPS-33 conference Cancun, Mexico. 2015 - Travel grant award for BASF Summer Courses for young researchers 2014 - International Conference on Bio-based Polymers and Composites (BiPoCo-2012) award for the Best poster presentation I place with poster "Thermal and Mechanical Properties of High Density Rigid Polyurethane Foams Obtained from Renewable/Recyclable Resources" 2012 – The World Sustainable Energy Days (WSED) young researcher forum “WSED NEXT!” with paper “Renewable resources as raw materials for high efficient, energy saving thermal insulation” invited speakers for „WSED 2012” 2011 - Acknowledgment of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia for a contribution of supervision of the high school student scientific work which resulted in an award at 23rd EU young researcher competition in Helsinki, Finland. 2009 - International Conference Baltic Polymer Symposium award for the Best Poster Award with poster "Influence of resin acid content in tall oil esters on thermal characteristics and flammability of polyurethane foams"

The most important publications

Kirpluks, M., Vanags, E., Abolins, A., Slawomir Michalowski, S., Fridrihsone, A., Cabulis, U. High Functionality Bio-Polyols from Tall Oil and Rigid Polyurethane Foams Formulated Solely Using Bio-Polyols. - Materials, 2020, 13(8), 1985 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13081985) Kirpluks, M., Vanags, E., Abolins, A., Fridrihsone, A., Cabulis, U. Chemo-enzymatic oxidation of tall oil fatty acids as a precursor for further polyol production. - Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019, 215, 390–398 (Doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.323). Kirpluks, M., Kalnbunde, D., Benes, H., Cabulis, U. Natural oil based highly functional polyols as feedstock for rigid polyurethane foam thermal insulation. - Industrial Crops  and Products, 2018, 122, 627–636 (Doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.06.040).  Kirpluks, M., Stiebra, L., Trubaca-Boginska, A., Cabulis, U., Andersons, J. Rigid Closed-Cell PUR Foams Containing Polyols Derived from Renewable Resources: The Effect of Polymer Composition, Foam Density, and Organoclay Filler on their Mechanical Properties. - Handbook of Composites from Renewable Materials, Volume 2, Design and Manufacturing, 640 pages, Publisher: Wiley, March, 2017 (ISBN: 978-1-119-22365-8).  Kirpluks, M., Cabulis, U., Ivdre, A., Kuranska, M., Zieleniewska, M., Auguscik, M. Mechanical and thermal properties of high-density rigid polyurethane foams from renewable resources. - Journal of Renewable Materials, 2016, 4, 1, 86–100 (Doi:10.7569/JRM.2015.634132).