CNT Localization and Network Formation in High-Performance PEEK/PEI Blends and Its Effect on Electrical Conductivity

High-performance thermoplastics are gaining increasing attention for space applications. However, the extreme lunar environment requires multifunctional materials that combine electrical conductivity for electrostatic charge dissipation with low thermal conductivity for thermal insulation. One promising strategy to achieve this balance is through conductive polymer nanocomposites with controlled morphology. In this study, the localization, migration, and network formation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in two-phase blends of polyetheretherketone/polyetherimide (PEEK/PEI) were systematically investigated to establish the relationships between processing, morphology, and the resulting electrical and thermal properties. Despite the strong thermodynamic preference of CNTs for the PEI phase, both PEEK/CNT and PEEK/PEI/CNT nanocomposites exhibit similar electrical percolation thresholds (0.25-0.5 wt.%), attributed to spatial confinement arising from PEEK crystallinity in PEEK/CNT and from phase-selective localization in the blend system, which limits the effective volume available for CNT dispersion. Morphological characterization confirmed co-continuous blend structures and complete CNT migration into the PEI phase in the PEEK/PEI/CNT system, while rheological studies revealed percolated networks forming below the electrical percolation threshold. Processing conditions strongly impacted conductivity: short mixing times preserved interconnected CNT agglomerates and enhanced conductivity, whereas prolonged mixing promoted dispersion but destroyed conductive pathways. Furthermore, thermal annealing induced agglomeration and weakened networks in PEEK/CNT systems but had a negligible effect on PEEK/PEI/CNT composites due to improved CNT-PEI compatibility. Finally, thermal conductivity remained low across all systems, maintaining the material's insulating performance for the harsh thermal environment of the Moon.