Integrating Experimental Crystallization Kinetics into Autodesk Moldflow: Validation and Crystallinity Prediction for iPP and POM
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: An accurate prediction of the final properties of injection-molded semi-crystalline parts requires models that capture crystallization kinetics during processing. This work presents two practical strategies to incorporate experimentally derived crystallization behaviors into Autodesk Moldflow, addressing cases where kinetics differ from the software’s native Avrami–Hoffman–Lauritzen formulation. We apply these methods to isotactic polypropylene (iPP T30G) displaying heterogeneous nucleation with a low-temperature plateau, and to polyoxymethylene (POM) exhibiting combined heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation. The parameters for Moldflow were obtained by matching isothermal half-crystallization times (t0.5) and by tuning flow-induced nucleation terms. Validation against isothermal and non-isothermal injection tests shows agreement between calculated and expected crystallinity evolution and reproduces measured spherulite diameters.
Source: Polymers
Authors: Vito Speranza, Valentina Volpe, Rita Salomone, Roberto Pantani
Institution: University of Salerno
Language: English
Subfield: Polymers and Plastics
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W7128907880