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The aggregation of (poly)styrene/quaternized (poly)‐4‐vinylpyridine diblocks into regular circular structures has been observed in Langmuir‐Blodgett films removed from a pure water surface. These novel aggregates, termed surface micelles, form at low surface pressures (< 2 mN/m) and exhibit rich isotherm behaviour as Langmuir films. A distinct first order phase transition is observed for the decylated derivatives of a series of diblocks (i.e. (PS)260(C10PVP+I−)n; n = 70, 120, 240) which has been interpreted as a transition from an entirely surface‐adsorbed micelle to a surface micelle whose polyelectrolyte chains have been forced into the aqueous subphase. Transmission electron and atomic force micrographs of LB films provide for direct visualization of these surface micelles as well as the means to estimate their aggregation numbers, N.

The surfaces of pulp fibres and of microtomed sections of black spruce (Picea mariana) wood were examined with an atomic force microscope (AFM) under ambient conditions. The images of the section surfaces clearly show features of the underlying cell wall structure. An apparent lamellation, with periodicity of 30-200 nm is observed in cross-sections of the S2 layer. AFM images of unbeaten and beaten unbleached kraft pulp fibre surfaces indicate the orientation of the component microfibrils; flbrillar material attached to the surface of beaten fibres is readily observed. Preliminary AFM images of fibre fragments under water were also generated.