The mechanical and optical properties of iPP nucleated with bicyclo[2.2.1]heptenedicarboxylate salts (BCHED) have been investigated. The results showed that aluminum bicyclo[2.2.1]heptenedicarboxylate (BCHE13) is the most effective nucleating agent to improve the mechanical and optical properties. Then the effects of the BCHE13 concentration on mechanical and optical properties and crystallization behaviors were studied. The results indicated that the saturated concentration of BCHE13 is about 0.2 wt %, at which nucleated iPP showed the better comprehensive mechanical and optical properties and high crystallization peak temperature. Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of iPP nucleated with different BCHE13 contents have been investigated by Caze method. The results indicated Avrami exponents of nucleated iPP gradually increased with the increasing of BCHE13 concentration. The results can be explained that crystallization and growth model of nucleated iPP is heterogeneous nuclei followed by more than three-dimension spherical growth during nonisothermal crystallization, which can be proved by agglomeration of BCHE13 in melt iPP. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 116: 792-800, 2010