A spark plug includes a metallic shell which holds a center electrode in an insulated condition, and a ground electrode is held in a penetration hole of the metallic shell. The penetration hole includes a circular counterbore portion, and a penetrating portion extending from the counterbore portion to an inner circumferential surface of the metallic shell. The ground electrode includes a fixing portion which is fixed to the counterbore portion, and an extension portion extending from the fixing portion. The extension portion has a flat surface which faces a forward end surface of the center electrode in the axial direction. The penetrating portion restricts the extension portion such that the flat surface of the extension portion faces toward a rear end side in the axial direction.

A spark plug includes a central electrode member and an outer electrode member. The central electrode member includes a central base and a plurality of electrode prongs extending in an axial direction from the central base. The outer electrode member surrounds the central electrode member. The outer electrode member includes a wall that is radially spaced from the plurality of electrode prongs to allow a series of electric arcs to form between the wall and the plurality of electrode prongs. The outer electrode member and the central electrode member are sized and positioned relative to one another such that a first rate of wear of the outer electrode member, along a longitudinal axis of the spark plug, is substantially equal to a second rate of wear of the central electrode member along the longitudinal axis.

A ground electrode for a spark plug includes a ground electrode body arranged to face a center electrode of the spark plug. The ground electrode includes a discharge portion mounted on the ground electrode body to face the center electrode with a spark gap between the discharge portion and the center electrode. The discharge portion is made of a platinum-based alloy of platinum, rhodium, and nickel. A first mass percent of the rhodium contained in the platinum-based alloy of the platinum, the rhodium, and the nickel is within a first range from 2 wt % to 20 wt % inclusive. A second mass percent of the nickel contained in the platinum-based alloy of the platinum, the rhodium, and the nickel being within a second range from 2.5 wt % to 12 wt % inclusive.

A ground electrode for a spark plug includes a ground electrode body arranged to face a center electrode of the spark plug. The ground electrode includes a discharge portion mounted on the ground electrode body to face the center electrode with a spark gap between the discharge portion and the center electrode. The discharge portion is made of a platinum-based alloy of platinum, rhodium, and nickel. A first mass percent of the rhodium contained in the platinum-based alloy of the platinum, the rhodium, and the nickel is within a first range from 2 wt % to 20 wt % inclusive. A second mass percent of the nickel contained in the platinum-based alloy of the platinum, the rhodium, and the nickel being within a second range from 2.5 wt % to 12 wt % inclusive.

A spark plug includes a central electrode member and an outer electrode member. The central electrode member includes a central base and a plurality of electrode prongs extending in an axial direction from the central base. The outer electrode member surrounds the central electrode member. The outer electrode member includes a wall that is radially spaced from the plurality of electrode prongs to allow a series of electric arcs to form between the wall and the plurality of electrode prongs. The outer electrode member and the central electrode member are sized and positioned relative to one another such that a first rate of wear of the outer electrode member, along a longitudinal axis of the spark plug, is substantially equal to a second rate of wear of the central electrode member along the longitudinal axis.

At least one of a center electrode and a ground electrode of a spark plug includes an electrode body, an electrode tip, and a welded portion formed between the electrode body and the electrode tip. The electrode tip includes a cover layer that covers at least a side surface of a tip body, and the cover layer is formed of IrAl. On a section formed by cutting the electrode tip near a boundary with the welded portion, an area of the tip body is represented by Sa. An area of a projection on the section of a non-contact portion of an opposite surface of the tip body not in contact with the welded portion is represented by Sb. In this case, Sa−Sb corresponds to 35% or more of Sa.

At least one of a center electrode and a ground electrode of a spark plug includes an electrode body, an electrode tip, and a welded portion formed between the electrode body and the electrode tip. The electrode tip includes a cover layer that covers at least a side surface of a tip body, and the cover layer is formed of IrAl. On a section formed by cutting the electrode tip near a boundary with the welded portion, an area of the tip body is represented by Sa. An area of a projection on the section of a non-contact portion of an opposite surface of the tip body not in contact with the welded portion is represented by Sb. In this case, Sa−Sb corresponds to 35% or more of Sa.

A spark plug, including a housing, an insulator situated in the housing, a center electrode situated in the insulator and a ground electrode situated on the housing, the ground electrode and the center electrode being situated relative to one another in such a way that the ground electrode and the center electrode form a spark gap, and the ground electrode including a core and a sheath surrounding the core, the core being made of a material which has a higher thermal conductivity than the material of the sheath, and a cross sectional area of the ground electrode being not greater than 2.76 mm.sup.2, the sheath having a wall thickness c of not greater than 0.4 mm in a first region of the ground electrode.

A spark plug, including a housing, an insulator situated in the housing, a center electrode situated in the insulator and a ground electrode situated on the housing, the ground electrode and the center electrode being situated relative to one another in such a way that the ground electrode and the center electrode form a spark gap, and the ground electrode including a core and a sheath surrounding the core, the core being made of a material which has a higher thermal conductivity than the material of the sheath, and a cross sectional area of the ground electrode being not greater than 2.76 mm.sup.2, the sheath having a wall thickness c of not greater than 0.4 mm in a first region of the ground electrode.

A pre-chamber spark plug for igniting a fuel-air mixture in an internal combustion engine, in particular a gasoline engine, comprises a spark plug body (1) having a pre-chamber housing (2) and a cap (4) which at least partially closes the pre-chamber (3), and further comprises a ground electrode (11) in the spark plug body (1) as well as a central electrode (7) which protrudes into the pre-chamber (3); the ground electrode (11) has an annular shape and, on the inner surface thereof, includes at least one ignition area (17) designed as a cam (16) as well as a radially inward extending protrusion (18) as a baffle (19).