Experimental Test of the Volmer Theory of Heterogeneous Nucleation

Abstract

The prediction of the Volmer theory that the critical supersaturation for nucleation from the vapor phase on a flat surface depends upon (1− cos φ 2 )(2+ cos φ) , where φ is the contact angle of the condensate on the surface, has been tested experimentally. Critical supersaturations for visible fogging on test surfaces coated with various transparent plastics were found to agree within observational error with the theoretical values computed for the observed contact angles.