Abstract: Provided is an Ir alloy which is excellent in high temperature strength while ensuring oxidation wear resistance at high temperature. The Ir alloy consists of: 7 mass % or more, and less than 10 mass % of Rh; 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta; 0 mass % to 5 mass % of at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni; and Ir as the balance, wherein a total content of the Ta and the at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni is 5 mass % or less.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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?A<6.

Abstract: Provided is an Ir alloy which is excellent in high temperature strength while ensuring oxidation wear resistance at high temperature. The Ir alloy consists of: 7 mass % or more, and less than 10 mass % of Rh; 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta; 0 mass % to 5 mass % of at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni; and Ir as the balance, wherein a total content of the Ta and the at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni is 5 mass % or less.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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?A<6.

Abstract: An Ir alloy is excellent in high temperature strength while ensuring oxidation wear resistance at high temperature. The heat-resistant Ir alloy includes: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Rh; 0.3 mass % to 5 mass % of an element group A made of at least one kind of element selected from among Ta and Re; and 0 mass % to 5 mass % of an element group B made of at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni, wherein the heat-resistant Ir alloy includes 5 mass % or less of the element group A and the element group B in total, and wherein, when the at least one kind of element in the element group A includes Re, the at least one kind of element in the element group B is Co alone, Cr alone, or two or more kinds selected from Co, Cr, and Ni.

Abstract: An Ir alloy is excellent in high temperature strength while ensuring oxidation wear resistance at high temperature. The heat-resistant Ir alloy includes: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Rh; 0.3 mass % to 5 mass % of an element group A made of at least one kind of element selected from among Ta and Re; and 0 mass % to 5 mass % of an element group B made of at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni, wherein the heat-resistant Ir alloy includes 5 mass % or less of the element group A and the element group B in total, and wherein, when the at least one kind of element in the element group A includes Re, the at least one kind of element in the element group B is Co alone, Cr alone, or two or more kinds selected from Co, Cr, and Ni.

Abstract: A spark plug has a center electrode and an earth electrode. The center electrode is faced to the earth electrode so that a spark discharging gap is formed between the center electrode and the earth electrode. An electrode chip is formed on at least one of the center electrode and the earth electrode. The electrode chip has a composition containing 40 to 60 mol % of aluminum and iridium as a remainder thereof. In the composition of the electrode chip, it is possible to replace part of the iridium with 1 to 20 mol % of at least one metal selected from nickel, iron, cobalt, platinum and rhodium.

Abstract: A spark plug has a center electrode and an earth electrode. The center electrode is faced to the earth electrode so that a spark discharging gap is formed between the center electrode and the earth electrode. An electrode chip is formed on at least one of the center electrode and the earth electrode. The electrode chip has a composition comprised of 40 to 60 mol % of aluminum and iridium as a remainder thereof. In the composition of the electrode chip, it is possible to replace part of the iridium with 1 to 20 mol % of at least one metal selected from nickel, iron, cobalt, platinum and rhodium.