DETERMINATION OF THE NUCLEUS-TO-SURROUNDINGS INTERFACIAL-TENSIONS ANDTHE LINE TENSION OF LENTICULAR NUCLEI FORMED FROM INSOLUBLE MONOLAYERS AT THE AIR-WATER-INTERFACE

The experimental surface pressure dependence of the stationary nucleat ion rate for methyl stearate monolayers at the air-water interface has been obtained from the monolayer relaxation experiments at constant s urface pressure. This dependence can be well described by a theoretica l model which takes into account formation of 3D lenticular nuclei fro m a supersaturated insoluble monolayer (2D-3D transition) at the air-w ater interface. Nonlinear regression analysis yields the nucleus-to-su rroundings tensions, the line tension, and the limiting nucleation rat e for infinite supersaturation. Furthermore, the surface pressure depe ndence of the following quantities is obtained: the two contact angles , the critical size and radius of the nucleus, as well as the free ene rgy of formation of the critical nucleus.