Approaches in wetting phenomena

Abstract

We review the subject of drops on surfaces from the early days of Young through the concept of line tension (line energy) and the equations of Furmidge and Dussan to the more modern Shanahan–de Gennes approach and the equations and experiments that emanated from them. The force approach and line energy approach seems mutually exclusive, but we reconcile them using the Shanahan–de Gennes approach.