Carbon nanotubes-grafted-carbon fibers have been tested to improve composite performances; in particular in aerospace this substrate was tested as conductive light material in substitution of metallic foils. In this work, hierarchical growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been achieved on recovered carbon fiber (rCF). The process has been performed by thermal catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) starting from liquid precursor (such as ethanol); different combinations of process parameters were tested and the growth was verified by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Raman Spectroscopy. The electrical characterization of the samples shows an increase of conductivity in presence of CNTs. © 2018 Author(s).