Nucleation of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) crystallization by gold (Au) nanoparticles was studied. Regardless of their size, 4.3, 8.8, 28.3, and 84.5 nm, all particles were able to nucleate spherulites when deposited on the iPP surface. However, when added and melt-mixed with iPP, only the smallest particles affected significantly the iPP bulk crystallization. Au nanoparticles larger than 4.3 nm, at the concentration of 0.001 wt %, did not influence the crystallization of iPP. Contrary to this, 0.001 and 0.005 wt % of Au nanoparticles having the size of 4.3 nm increased crystallization temperature of the iPP by 7-8 degrees C and decreased markedly the sizes of polycrystalline aggregates. Aggregation of Au nanoparticles in the polymer matrix was evidenced by electron microscopy and contributed to their decreased effectiveness in the nucleation of iPP crystallization. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 469-478, 2010