TY - JOUR

T1 - Ceramic materials as an alternative for conventional spark plug electrodes

AU - Harrer, Walter Stefan

AU - Gruber, Manuel

AU - Melcher, Verena

AU - Tilz, Anton

AU - Engelmayer, Michael

AU - Wimmer, Andreas

AU - Bermejo, Raul

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Ceramics Society.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Large gas engines are typically applied to compensate for peak loads and grid instabilities in the electric power supply. A key component of these engines is the spark plug. Because of the harsh conditions encountered in their use, the spark plug electrodes are subject to significant wear. Conventional electrodes are expensive due to the precious metal alloys they contain. As an alternative, ceramic materials from the groups of silicide, carbides, and nitrides were selected for preliminary experiments that investigate functional as well as mechanical properties and wear behavior. Because of the harsh conditions during operation, the new materials must have a high melting temperature, good thermal shock resistance, high thermal conductivity, and high corrosion/oxidation resistance as well as high density. It was found that the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of certain ceramic candidates are sufficient for application as spark plug electrodes. Furthermore, the chosen ceramic materials achieve an adequate performance in terms of secondary voltage trace and ignition behavior. However, wear resistance may not be sufficient for service times longer than the service time of existing spark plugs and further research is still necessary before ceramic electrodes may be established as a commercial alternative to existing electrodes.

AB - Large gas engines are typically applied to compensate for peak loads and grid instabilities in the electric power supply. A key component of these engines is the spark plug. Because of the harsh conditions encountered in their use, the spark plug electrodes are subject to significant wear. Conventional electrodes are expensive due to the precious metal alloys they contain. As an alternative, ceramic materials from the groups of silicide, carbides, and nitrides were selected for preliminary experiments that investigate functional as well as mechanical properties and wear behavior. Because of the harsh conditions during operation, the new materials must have a high melting temperature, good thermal shock resistance, high thermal conductivity, and high corrosion/oxidation resistance as well as high density. It was found that the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of certain ceramic candidates are sufficient for application as spark plug electrodes. Furthermore, the chosen ceramic materials achieve an adequate performance in terms of secondary voltage trace and ignition behavior. However, wear resistance may not be sufficient for service times longer than the service time of existing spark plugs and further research is still necessary before ceramic electrodes may be established as a commercial alternative to existing electrodes.

KW - ceramics

KW - fractography

KW - ignition systems

KW - internal combustion engines

KW - spark plug electrodes

KW - wear

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85198996749&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/ijac.14865

DO - 10.1111/ijac.14865

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85198996749

VL - 2024

SP - 4393

EP - 4403

JO - International journal of applied ceramic technology

JF - International journal of applied ceramic technology

SN - 1546-542X

IS - ??? Stand: 30. September 2024

ER -