Values of corresponding to different values of are listed in Table 5.2.

Table 5.2: Variation of withcontact angle

From equation (5.18c) it is clear that for the energy barrier will be the same as homogenous nucleation and for there is no energy barrier. Thus will decrease for heterogeneous nucleation (Fig. 5.6a). Hence more wetable the surface, (i.e. larger the value of ) smaller is the energy barrier for the vapors to condense.

Fig. 5.6a: Comparison of free energy barrier between homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation.