Abstract
Mesoporous silica was obtained by the acid attack of a serpentinite rock. This material was soaked with acrylonitrile (containing azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator) and the radical polymerization led to the obtaining of polymer inorganic-organic nanocomposites. The polymer nanocomposites were transformed in carbon-silica nanocomposites by the cyclization and graphitization of the carbon chain polymer. Heating the carbon-silica nanocomposite in nitrogen atmosphere allowed the synthesis of silicon nitride, a raw material for special ceramics. Keywords: radical polymerization, nanocomposite, silica, silicon nitride