EN
In the paper results of studies of MnFe_2O_4/MCM-41 nanocomposites have been presented. The influence of manganese ferrite loading on changes of porous properties of mesoporous MCM-41 structure was studied by means of N_2 sorption/desorption method and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. Disappearance of the longest-lived ortho-positronium component (τ_5) of pure MCM-41 mesoporous material in the positron annihilation lifetime spectra of MnFe_2O_4/MCM-41 measured in vacuum is a result of either o-Ps quenching or the Ps inhibition mechanism. Filling of pores in the studied nanocomposites by air at ambient pressure causes partial reappearance of the (τ_5) component except for the sample with maximum ferrite content. Both the (τ_5) component lifetime and intensity are suppressed together with increasing MnFe_2O_4 content by chemical quenching and inhibition of Ps formation occur. Observed anti-quenching effect of air is a result of two processes: neutralization of some surface active centres acting as inhibitors and considerably weaker paramagnetic quenching by O_2 molecules.