Abstract: An insulator for spark plug with a main constituent of alumina and containing silicon includes a grain boundary phase positioned between alumina particles. The grain boundary phase contains: a group 2A element; a rare earth element; and at least one kind of zirconium, titanium, chrome, niobium, manganese, and iron (a first element). Assuming that a total amount of the rare earth element is X (mass %), a total amount of the group 2A element is Y (mass %), and a total amount of the first element is Z (mass %), the following are met: 0.40?Y/X?2.00 0.10?Z/X?0.40.

Abstract: An insulator used in a spark plug having improved strength and dielectric strength performance. The insulator comprises a sintered compact whose main constituent is alumina. In the sintered compact, a content ratio of a rare earth element (R. E.) and a group 2 element (2A) satisfies 0.1?R. E./2A?1.4, and the content ratio of the R. E. and barium oxide (BaO) satisfies 0.2?BaO/R. E.?0.8. At least one virtual rectangular frame of 7.5 ?m×50 ?m surrounding crystals containing the rare earth element lies within a region of 630 ?m×480 ?m in any cross section of the sintered compact.

Abstract: A spark plug includes: a center electrode including a rod portion and a head portion and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the rod portion; an insulator having an axial bore, the center electrode being disposed in the axial bore at its front end; and a seal portion for fixing the center electrode in the axial bore. The insulator comprises: a leg portion inner circumferential surface; a cylindrical trunk portion inner circumferential surface which surrounds the head portion; and a support surface which supports the head portion. The seal portion has: a seal portion outer circumferential surface; a seal portion abutment surface; and a connecting surface. In a cross section of the seal portion, a curve, which is part of the contour of the seal portion and is included in the connecting surface, has a radius of curvature R of 0.1 mm or more.