process for separating preshredded carpet materials into as many as three main components of different densities which comprises finely comminuting the carpet materials in the liquid phase . the density of the liquid phase is adjusted to a level between two adjacent densities of the components . separation of one component from the other components and from the liquid phase in the suspension is effected in a double - cone full - jacketed screw centrifuge . the process is repeated if there are two materials of different densities in the other components fraction . the process is useful for recovering nylon , polyester , or polypropylene from carpet scraps which nylon or polyester can be depolymerized to reusable monomers and which polypropylene can be reprocessed into pellets , non - wovens or fibers .