Profile

An expert in Eucommia rubber extraction and high-end applications, advancing the industrialization of Eucommia rubber medical supports.

Story

Zhang Jichuan trained under the Eucommia rubber research team at the Institute of Chemistry, CAS, pursuing his PhD there from 2001 to 2011. He systematically studied the dynamic mechanical properties and underwater sound absorption of Eucommia rubber and its blends, proposing on the basis of the established three-stage vulcanization that two sub-states also exist, advancing basic research on the structure-property relationships of Eucommia rubber. He is now a professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology and Deputy Director of the Engineering Research Center of Elastomer Energy Saving and Resource Utilization of the Ministry of Education, and concurrently Deputy Secretary-General of the Industry Technology Innovation Alliance for High-value Utilization of Eucommia Resources.

He is devoted to the industrialized comprehensive development of Eucommia rubber: exploiting its low crystallization melting point of only 60 degrees C and its X-ray transparency, he developed intelligent 3D-printed orthopedic small splints now applied in the emergency department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. He has also applied Eucommia rubber to dental filling materials, sports protectors and personalized thermoformed shoe uppers; his 2026 collaboration with a Putian footwear company was reported by CCTV and other media.

Milestones

• In December 2018, delivered the report 'Mechanism analysis of Eucommia rubber used in tread compounds' at the 2018 China Eucommia Industry Development Summit Forum
• In June 2024, presented low-cost Eucommia rubber extraction technology and high-end applications at the Eucommia and anti-aging academic exchange conference of the China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care
• In January 2026, collaborated with a Putian (Fujian) footwear company to embed Eucommia rubber elastomer into shoe uppers enabling hairdryer thermoforming customization, covered by CCTV

Key Contributions

• In 2010, completed his doctoral dissertation 'Study on the dynamic mechanical properties and underwater sound absorption of Eucommia rubber and its blends', proposing that two sub-states exist in Eucommia rubber crosslinking
• Leads the 14th Five-Year National Key R&D Program project 'Preparation and large-scale application of bio-based elastomers' (launched 2023)
• Invented the patent 'A self-crosslinking shape-memory Eucommia rubber composite and its preparation method and application' (published 2019)
• Promoted the clinical application of intelligent 3D-printed Eucommia rubber small splints in the emergency department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
• Led the founding of Shandong Beilong New Material Technology Co., Ltd. to develop Eucommia rubber sports protectors, assistive devices for the disabled, and medical orthopedic devices