The effect of polymaleimide polymers on calcium carbonate crystallization was studied using nephelometry. Induction time and percent growth inhibition were determined for polymeric additives from the nephelometric data. The polymaleimide synthesized by KOH-initiated polymerization exhibited the greatest growth inhibition and longest nucleation time among the polymers investigated. Raman spectroscopy was used to determine the calcium carbonate polymorph formed in the presence of these polymeric additives.