A theoretical mathematical model is presented to describe the temperature distribution and the rate of phase change in the injection molding process of crystalline plastics. Under some assumptions, an exact closed form is solved with the use of an internal technique. The model was tested by measuring the temperature profile in a slab mold instrumented with thermocouples. Measurements of temperature profiles in the center of the polymer slab compare well to model prediction. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.