Denso Corporation

Ishifuku Metal Industry Co., Ltd.

Ikuya Ando

Ken Hanashi

Ryohei Akiyoshi

Shunsuke Yokota

Kenta Terai

Hayato Yasuhara

Provided is an Ir alloy, which is further improved in Vickers hardness. Specifically, provided is a heat-resistant Ir alloy, including: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Rh; 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta; and 0.003 mass % to 0.15 mass % of at least one kind selected from the group consisting of: Sc; Hf; and W, with the balance being Ir.

Heat-resistant Ir alloy

Provided is an Ir alloy wire, which is further improved in oxidation wear resistance while ensuring a Vickers hardness. The Ir alloy wire includes: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Rh; and 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta, wherein an average value A for an aspect ratio (crystal grain length/crystal grain width) of a structure of the alloy wire in a range of a depth of 0.05 mm or less from a surface of the alloy wire satisfies 1&#x2264;A&#x3c;6.

Heat-resistant Ir alloy wire

A glow plug includes a sleeve secured by press-fitting to a housing with a ceramic heater held therein. A lead wire exposed from the heater is electrically connected to an inside surface of the sleeve to form a joint portion. The joint portion and a press-fit portion formed between the sleeve and the housing are offset in position relative to each other along an axial direction of the housing. The joint portion is thus kept free from the influence of a load or pressure applied during press-fitting operation to form the press-fit portion. A method of producing such glow plug is also disclosed.

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Kariya, Japan

Ikuya Ando