Surface nucleation of poly(L/D-lactide) at the interface with aluminum was studied by performing isothermal DSC analysis of amorphous samples of varying thickness between 100 degrees C and 130 degrees C. To ensure complete wetting of the aluminum surface, a hot melt laminating process was used to prepare the samples. Theoretical aspects of surface crystallization kinetics were explored and the resulting model was compared with the results of Monte-Carlo simulations. Three stages of surface crystallization were identified depending on the growth geometry: (1) impingement-free growth, (2) increasingly laterally-constrained transverse growth, and (3) interstitial growth. By fitting the Monte-Carlo simulation to the experimental half-times of crystallization the surface nucleation concentration and the bulk nucleation rate was estimated at 4 different temperatures. It was found that both surface nucleation concentration and the bulk nucleation concentration decrease with increasing crystallization temperature. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.