Dynamics of nucleate boiling in droplets of bidistillate on different wall surfaces was studied experimentally. These experiments were carried out on the rough copper and on the polished surface with plasma spraying of a golden film. The surface state was investigated by an electron microscope and 3D image processing software. Characteristic microroughness responsible for minimal superheating at nucleate boiling was determined. Heat transfer on the polished surface was significantly worse than on the rough wall. Thermal measurements were performed by means of a multiple increase in thermal imaging. When boiling on the polished surface, the self-organized ordered structures are formed there. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.