A highly active novel beta-nucleating agent for isotactic polypropylene (iPP), cadmium bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5ene-2,3-dicarboxylate (BCHE30), was found and its effects on the mechanical properties, the content of beta-crystal, and crystallization behavior of iPP were investigated, respectively. The results show that the impact strength and crystallization peak temperature of nucleated iPP are greatly increased, while the spherulite size of nucleated iPP is dramatically decreased than that of pure W. The content of beta-form of nucleated iPP (k(beta) value) can reach 87% with 0.1 wt% BCHE30. The Caze method was used to study the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of nucleated iPP and the crystallization active energy was achieved by Kissinger method. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.