METHOD FOR PRODUCING PELLETS FROM FIBER COMPOSITE MATERIALS

The invention relates to a method for producing pellets from fiber composite materials suitable for further processing in a plastics finishing method, said pellets containing individual carbon fibers, carbon fiber bundles, or a mixture thereof and at least one thermoplastic matrix material. The method is characterized in that carbon fibers, carbon fiber bundles, or a mixture thereof are isolated from waste or used parts that contain carbon fiber, laid flat together with the thermoplastic matrix material, compressed into a sheet material under the effect of heat, and subsequently cooled and comminuted into pellets, platelets, or chips. The method according to the invention enables the use of carbon fibers, for example from textile production waste, adhered or cured production waste, from processed CFRP waste components or the like, as reinforcing fibers, whereby an inexpensive raw material is provided and the carbon fibers that are contained in said waste materials are recycled for a useful application. The final carbon fibers, carbon fiber bundles, or mixture thereof are brought into a pourable and readily meterable form and can be used as raw materials for extrusion or injection molding for example.