CPC H01T 13/39 (2013.01) [H01T 21/02 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |
1. A spark plug electrode, comprising:
an electrode base;
an electrode tip that is formed on the electrode base and includes a precious metal-based material and a plurality of laser deposition layers, the laser deposition layers are stacked on one another; and
an intermediate layer that is located between the electrode base and the electrode tip, the intermediate layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is between that of the electrode base and the electrode tip;
wherein the intermediate layer includes a whole area connection between the electrode base and the electrode tip, in the whole area connection at least some solidified material from the electrode base has intermixed and/or interfused with at least some solidified material from the electrode tip,
wherein the whole area connection is non-uniform in thickness so that it is thicker in one section than it is in another section,
wherein the whole area connection has a lenticular shape and includes a center section and a radially outboard section, the center section is thicker, in an axial dimension, than the radially outboard section and is located towards a center of the whole area connection,
wherein the whole area connection has an uneven shape and includes a first outboard section and a second outboard section, the first outboard section is located on a first side of the whole area connection and is thicker, in an axial dimension, than the second outboard section which is located on a second side of the whole area connection.
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