Formation of liquid marbles and wetting transitions

► Formation of liquid marbles was studied. ► Droplets of water/ethanol solutions of various concentrations were coated with various hydrophobic powders. ► Existence of the critical surface tension of the water/ethanol solution allowing formation of a marble was established. ► The critical surface tension depends on the kind of the power. ► The critical surface tension coincides with the onset of wetting transitions.