Fig. 1
From: Wetting and adhesion properties of quasicrystals and complex metallic alloys
The equilibrium shape of a minute droplet of a liquid L, in the presence of its vapour V and deposited on the perfectly flat, horizontal surface of solid S, reflects the balance between the liquid surface tension γ L, the surface tension of the solid in the vapour atmosphere γ SV, and γ SL the interfacial tension between liquid and solid. If roughness effects are negligible, as well as if the difference between γ SV and γ SL is small, the contact angle θ is well defined and measurable by optical shape-profiling methods. This well-known figure usually omits the reaction of the solid under the liquid to balance surface tension effects (neglecting gravity). Our article considers this component along the z-direction explicitly