The melting behavior and crystallization kinetics of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT)/stainless steel fiber (SSF) composites were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The morphology was studied with scanning electron microscopy and polarized optical microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed that the crystallization temperature increased by 27 degrees C with the addition of 1 vol % SSF to the matrix. The Avrami exponents, analyzed in isothermal crystallization kinetics, were determined to be 2-3 for both neat PTT and PTT/SSF composites. SSF, as a nucleating agent in the composites, greatly increased the crystallization rate. The activation energies of the composites were obviously lower than that of pure PTT, and this indicated much easier crystallization of the composites. All these samples exhibited banded spherulites, and the spherulite size gradually decreased with the SSF loading increasing. Subsequent melting behaviors revealed that all of these samples, especially of the composites, exhibited triple melting peaks at all crystallization temperatures studied. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.