CC BY 4.0Theiss, JulianJulianTheissHaj Ahmad, BerwanBerwanHaj AhmadManis, FrankFrankManisPreinfalck, MiriamMiriamPreinfalckBaz, StephanStephanBaz2025-08-072025-08-072025-08-07https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/490304https://doi.org/10.24406/publica-502910.3390/jcs908042510.24406/publica-5029This study focuses on producing and processing highly aligned tapes from recycled carbon fibers (rCFs). The rCFs are processed with a modified carding machine, oriented through a specialized subsequent process and consolidated into a semi-finished product. These rCFtapes are placed onto a two-dimensional tool using an adapted automated fiber placement (AFP) technology to demonstrate a novel approach of producing composites from highly oriented recycled materials. The semi-finished stacks are consolidated in a heating press and test coupons are tested according to corresponding standards. The rCF-tapes are evaluated using methods such as tensile and flexural testing and determination of fiber volume content. Mechanical values are assessed by processing various generations of rCF-tapes and comparing them to each other and to virgin fiber tapes (vCF-tapes) made of the same type of carbon fiber and matrix. Microscopic imaging is also performed to analyze the quality of the resulting composites. In this study, a tensile strength of up to 1100 MPa in the fiber direction and stiffness of up to 80 GPa at a fiber volume content (FVC) of approximately 40% were achieved. The results highlight the strong potential and benefits of using highly oriented rCF-tapes and demonstrate the suitability of fiber placement technologies for those recycled materials.enrecycling-composite materialsrecycling-carbon fibersrecycled carbon fiber (rCF)automated fiber placementcomposite materials-mechanical propertiesrCF tapes600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::660 Chemische Verfahrenstechnik::668 Technik anderer organischer Produktejournal article