EP1573873B1 - Method for the production of electrodes used for high-performance spark plugs - Google Patents

Method for the production of electrodes used for high-performance spark plugs Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1573873B1
EP1573873B1 EP03781989A EP03781989A EP1573873B1 EP 1573873 B1 EP1573873 B1 EP 1573873B1 EP 03781989 A EP03781989 A EP 03781989A EP 03781989 A EP03781989 A EP 03781989A EP 1573873 B1 EP1573873 B1 EP 1573873B1
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Prior art keywords
rhodium
alloy
platinum
layers
fusing
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EP03781989A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1573873A1 (en
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Christian Francesconi
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GE Kapfenberg GmbH
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GE Kapfenberg GmbH
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T21/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture or maintenance of spark gaps or sparking plugs
    • H01T21/02—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture or maintenance of spark gaps or sparking plugs of sparking plugs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a new electrode material for spark plugs for internal combustion engines, in particular for industrial gas engines, their manufacture and use and the spark plugs produced using it.
  • the requirements for the ignition elements and the need to improve the life and efficiency of the spark plugs have increased rapidly.
  • the abovementioned DE-A1 envisages additionally alloying in an element of group 3A or 4A of the periodic system, in particular yttrium or zirconium, in which case, in turn, the oxide film effect already described above is to be used.
  • EP 1 246 330 A2 to name, in which the main focus is on spark plug electrodes of certain dimensions.
  • This document further has the noble metal of the center electrode and the method for producing the same the subject.
  • the production process described therein consists in that the precious and non-precious metals intended for processing are mixed together in powder form in a respectively desired alloy composition. Thereafter, this powder mixture is compacted in a tubular container, after which the "green compact” thus obtained is melted in a gas melting furnace. In this case, an alloy ingot or blank having different alloying proportions is obtained.
  • This blank is processed by hot forging, rolling, cutting and wire drawing into a wire, from which then sliced chips are cut, which are finally welded by laser to the base metal.
  • the laser only serves to weld the noble metal chip onto the spark plug center electrode which, according to the information there, consists of a nickel alloy, namely Inconel 600.
  • a discharge region is produced with a noble metal chip with, for example, 20% by weight of Pt and a continuously compelling content of nickel with specific dimensions.
  • the information contained there in terms of diameter and height of the center electrode precious metal are within the dimensions of the discharge range of conventional automotive spark plugs. It is provided according to the local claim 1 as an electrode material, a precious metal alloy, which consists predominantly of iridium and compelling manner from 0.5 to 8% by weight nickel, the nickel content, preferably 1 to 4%, should be.
  • one or more element (s) from the group Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru and Re may additionally be contained in the electrode alloy, with 0.5 to 40% by weight indicating rhodium content is, according to the information there Rh also in shares of less than 3% by weight.
  • an Ir / Ni alloy having 0.5 to 0.8% by weight of nickel and 1 to 5% by weight of Ru and Re can be used, and according to claim 10, the use of an iridium Alloy provided as a chip material, which contains 0.5 to 50% by weight of Rh and also necessarily 1 to 4% by weight of nickel.
  • JP 2001 118660 A1 is a spark plug for internal combustion engines with a "housing" of a rhodium alloy with other additional metal components, which encloses an insulator or encloses described.
  • This "housing” is said to be formed of a Rh alloy having one or more alloying elements (s) in proportions of 3 to 38% by weight.
  • the housing is made of an oxidation and heat resistant material, which prevents corrosion, whereby the life of the spark plug is increased.
  • the center and the ground electrode noble metal of the spark plug are mainly composed of rhodium as a main component and at least one of Group Re, Ru, Ir, W, Mo and Os in proportions of 3 to 38% by weight.
  • the high proportion of rhodium significantly increases the cost of the spark plugs disclosed therein.
  • JP-A1 for the production of the rhodium-based alloy disclosed therein. Specifically, there is described that in the manufacture of the later alloying constituent metals are introduced into a refractory container and then the contents of the same is completely melted by induction heating. After passing through the coil, the metal material is allowed to solidify.
  • laser or plasma are merely mentioned as further possibilities.
  • a homogeneous alloy in the form of a billet is very specifically produced by true melting. It is also mentioned there that the melting can be repeated several times to obtain a homogeneous ingot of the alloy.
  • a secondary product is then produced, in which the various metal elements are oriented or arranged in layers: This layered metal structure, which according to the local information as, in particular essential for stability, component rhodium, forms the Key point of this JP-A1.
  • JP 2000 306654 A1 The subject matter of the invention is the production of ignition electrode-precious metal alloys and their further processing. In connection with the welding of the noble metal to the center electrode, laser technology is also mentioned there. Furthermore, there are described manufacturing and further processing methods for obtaining a spherical flattened, spherical and annular central electrode metal. Furthermore, there the connection between electrode noble metal and the ground electrode is described in more detail.
  • the known electrode material is usually formed with powder-metallurgically produced alloys of iridium, rhodium and possibly other platinum metals. It is to be assumed that the burning and evaporation behavior due to a kind of trace porosity of powder metallurgy produced alloys is not quite optimal, and that the performance and life of the ignition electrodes for high performance spark plugs despite their particular high stress can be further improved if this is formed in the electrode material with an alloy obtained by a real melting process.
  • the invention makes it possible to obtain from a commercial "pure", that is, from a pure platinum metal, which has about 99.95% purity, and from predetermined alloys of a platinum metal with e.g. 10% by mass of rhodium and, depending on the choice of material thickness or thickness of the two on and to be melted layers, layers, platelets od.
  • a commercial "pure" that is, from a pure platinum metal, which has about 99.95% purity
  • a platinum metal / rhodium alloy with exactly that rhodium content which is aimed for.
  • platinum metals or “platinum (-rine) metals", the members of the group of the six “platinum metals” of the periodic table of elements.
  • platinum-metal alloys it is meant alloys of two or more metals from the group of six platinum metals of the periodic system of elements.
  • inventively provided use of pure metal and given alloy for obtaining a metal body with a respective desired content of rhodium a particularly high flexibility in terms of feedstocks and their alloy composition can be achieved, and, as today laser melting and their use quite routine -Methods, is also provided according to the invention intended arrival and melting of the two layers of platinum (-Rein) metal or platinum metal / rhodium alloy to different, respectively desired compositions no problem.
  • the rhodium-containing and supplying layer in platinum metal-platinum alloy composite as platinum metal / rhodium alloy such having a rhodium content of at least 5 mass%, as shown in claim 2 ,
  • platinum metal / rhodium alloy such having a rhodium content of at least 5 mass%, as shown in claim 2 .
  • a commercially available 10 mass% rhodium-containing platinum metal alloy, in particular an iridium / rhodium alloy be particularly advantageous.
  • the practical process is such that the noble metal composite platelets are positioned under a laser or electron radiation source and the high-energy radiation source after commissioning in the radiation field melts the material through to the bottom of the composite and thus melts the two mechanically interconnected platelets in the upstream operation. In this on and in each other or melted and re-solidified area thus creates a new material pairing.
  • the radiation source with a corresponding pitch is set to the next point in the grid, and the local area of the composite is remelted in the same way as the previously irradiated small area.
  • the entire composite component is converted into a melt-compact form.
  • Another proven method of nipping and nipping in the invention consists in the - claim 8 to be taken - application of a continuous, guided over the wafer radiation melt front, for example, over the entire width of the platinum (-Rein) metal / platinum alloy -Verbundplakchen ranges, the feed of this melt front, for example, takes place in the longitudinal direction of the platelet.
  • This can be - comparable to the zone melting - achieve a particularly homogeneous alloy structure, which ensures a high burn-off and Abdampf-resistance of the new ignition electrodes and thus a particularly long service life of the equipped with the electrodes produced in this way spark plugs.
  • a procedure according to claim 9 is particularly favorable, in which a targeted zonales melting except for the radiation exposure side opposite side of the platinum (-Rein) metal / platinum metal alloy composite concerned Of course, this melting is to be kept so short that it is too no outflow of liquid metal from the molten radiation exposed zones of the composite comes.
  • a further subject of the invention are the high-performance spark plugs according to claim 11, which are equipped with ignition electrodes produced by the method according to the invention in its basic variant according to claim 1 and the various preferred embodiments described above and in claims 1 to 10.
  • ignition electrodes for the assembly of high performance spark plug according to claim 12 forms a another essential object of the present invention.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Spark Plugs (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a novel method for producing electrodes used for high-performance spark plugs, especially for stationary internal combustion engines, based on an alloy of at least two metals of the platinum group, at least one of which being iridium while at least one other metal is rhodium. The inventive method, in which at least two layers of different metals of the platinum group are joined together, is characterized by the fact that said layers are bonded to each other across the entire surface thereof without leaving any gap at a temperature of 400 to 1500 °C so as to form a planar welded or soldered bond, at least one of the layers being formed by an alloy containing rhodium and at least one additional platinum metal, whereupon the bonded layers are fused to and into each other by means of laser radiation or electron radiation while a given geometrical shape, especially a strip shape, is maintained so as to obtain a compact fused alloy body having a total rhodium content of 2.2 to 2.8 mass percent. The invention also relates to a method for producing the electrodes and the use of rhodium alloy for said production.

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft einen neuen Elektroden-Werkstoff für Zündkerzen für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen, insbesondere für Industrie-Gasmotoren, deren Herstellung und Verwendung sowie die unter dessen Einsatz hergestellten Zündkerzen. Es besteht ein immer noch steigender Bedarf, die Lebensdauer der Elektroden durch Erhöhung von deren Resistenz gegen Abbrand, Heißkorrosion und Abschmelzung sowie deren Effektivität im Zündgeschehen selbst zu verbessern, wie z.B. den Verlauf des Funkenüberschlags. Zur Erreichung dieses Zieles wurden schon seit längerer Zeit Versuche unternommen, Edelmetallplättchen, insbesondere aus einem Platinmetall bzw. aus einer Platinmetall-Legierung, als Entladeelement der Zündkerzen für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen zu verwenden. In den letzten Jahren sind infolge neuer Entwicklungen auf dem Sektor der Verbrennungsmotoren und infolge der dadurch wesentlich angehobenen Motorleistungen und Motor-Wirkungsgrade die Anforderungen an die Zündelemente und die Notwendigkeit, die Lebensdauer und die Effizienz der Zündkerzen zu verbessern, rasch gestiegen.The present invention relates to a new electrode material for spark plugs for internal combustion engines, in particular for industrial gas engines, their manufacture and use and the spark plugs produced using it. There is an ever-increasing need to improve the life of the electrodes by increasing their resistance to burnup, hot corrosion and melting, as well as their effectiveness in the firing process itself, e.g. the course of the flashover. To achieve this aim, attempts have been made for quite some time to use noble metal flakes, in particular of a platinum metal or of a platinum metal alloy, as the discharge element of the spark plugs for internal combustion engines. In recent years, as a result of recent developments in the field of internal combustion engines and as a result of the significantly increased engine outputs and engine efficiencies, the requirements for the ignition elements and the need to improve the life and efficiency of the spark plugs have increased rapidly.

Zur Erreichung dieser Ziele wurde vorgeschlagen, die Edelmetallplättchen der Zündelektroden aus dem Platinmetall Iridium herzustellen, das einen höheren Schmelzpunkt als Platin hat und somit einer ganz wesentlichen Voraussetzung für die Senkung des Abbrandes entgegenzukommen schien. Es wurde jedoch gefunden, dass Iridium, obwohl es wegen seines hohen Schmelzpunktes von etwa 2450°C geradezu ideal geeignet sein müsste, den nicht zu übersehenden Nachteil hat, dass es bei höheren Temperaturen die Tendenz zu einer gesteigerten Verdampfung aufweist und daher der Verbrauch an Iridium infolge Verdampfens bei Temperaturen von über 900°C stark beschleunigt wird.To achieve these objectives, it was proposed to manufacture the noble metal plates of the ignition electrodes of the platinum metal iridium, which has a higher melting point than platinum and thus seemed to meet a very important prerequisite for reducing the burnup. However, it has been found that iridium, although due to its high melting point of about 2450 ° C, would have to be ideally suited, it has the not inconceivable disadvantage that it tends to increase evaporation at higher temperatures and hence the consumption of iridium is greatly accelerated due to evaporation at temperatures above 900 ° C.

Zur Unterdrückung Verminderung dieses unerwünschten Verdampfungseffektes wurde unter anderem vorgeschlagen, dem für die Zündelektroden vorgesehenen Iridium Aluminium oder Yttrium beizulegieren, womit die Bildung eines Oxydations-Schutzfilms auf der Oberfläche der Iridium-Zündelektrode erreicht wird, durch den die Verdampfung des Iridiums wesentlich vermindert werden soll. Der Nachteil dieser beiden Legierungselemente besteht nun darin, dass der Oxydations-Schutzfilm aus den Oxyden von Aluminium oder Yttrium sich nur schwach an das Iridium bindet und es so zum Abplatzen bzw. zu einer Abblätterung desselben im Zündbetrieb kommt und somit die angestrebte Barriere gegen das Verdampfen des Iridiums zerstört wird.In order to suppress this undesirable evaporation effect, it has been proposed inter alia to add aluminum or yttrium to the iridium intended for the ignition electrodes, thus achieving the formation of an oxidation protection film on the surface of the iridium ignition electrode which is intended to substantially reduce the evaporation of iridium. The disadvantage of these two alloying elements consists in the fact that the oxidation protective film of the oxides of aluminum or yttrium binds only weakly to the iridium and thus it flakes off or exfoliates in the ignition mode and thus the desired barrier against evaporation of iridium is destroyed.

Die weitere Entwicklung auf diesem Gebiet brachte die Erkenntnis, dass durch ein Zulegieren von Rhodium zum Iridium die Tendenz des Iridiums, schon bei Temperaturen ab etwa 900°C zu verdampfen, wesentlich verringert werden kann. So ist z.B. aus der DE 19623795 A1 bekannt, für die Mittel- und/oder die Erdungselektroden von Zündkerzen mit einem Edelmetallplättchen, das mit einer Entladestelle ihrer Stirnseite verbunden ist, ein derartiges, aus einer Iridium/Rhodium-Legierung bestehendes Edelmetallplättchen mit einem Rhodium-Anteil von 1 bis 60 Masse-% und bevorzugterweise von 3 bis 30 Masse-% einzusetzen. Hiezu ist zu bemerken, dass der Einsatz von Rhodium enthaltenden Legierungen von Metallen aus der Gruppe der Platinmetalle für Zündelektroden an sich bekannt ist, dass aber ein tatsächlich signifikanter Effekt in Richtung auf eine Verringerung der Verdampfung bei den heute zum Einsatz kommenden Zündelektroden-Legierungen überhaupt erst ab einem Rhodiumgehalt von 3 % und darüber erzielt werden kann. Gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform sieht die oben angeführte DE-A1 vor, zusätzlich ein Element der Gruppe 3A oder 4A des Periodensystems einzulegieren, und zwar insbesondere Yttrium oder Zirkonium, wobei hier offenbar wiederum der schon oben beschriebene Oxidfilm-Effekt genutzt werden soll.The further development in this area brought the realization that by adding rhodium to iridium, the tendency of iridium to evaporate even at temperatures above about 900 ° C, can be significantly reduced. For example, from the DE 19623795 A1 known for the center and / or the ground electrodes of spark plugs with a noble metal chip, which is connected to a discharge point of its front side, such, consisting of an iridium / rhodium alloy noble metal chip with a rhodium content of 1 to 60% by mass and preferably from 3 to 30% by weight. It should be noted that the use of rhodium-containing Alloys of metals from the group of platinum metals for ignition electrodes is known per se, but that a truly significant effect in the direction of a reduction in evaporation in the starting today used Zündelektroden alloys can be achieved only from a rhodium content of 3% and above , According to a preferred embodiment, the abovementioned DE-A1 envisages additionally alloying in an element of group 3A or 4A of the periodic system, in particular yttrium or zirconium, in which case, in turn, the oxide film effect already described above is to be used.

Zum nachstliegenden Stand der Technik ist weiters die EP 1 246 330 A2 zu nennen, bei welcher das Hauptaugenmerk auf Zündkerzen-Elektroden bestimmter Dimension gerichtet ist. Diese Schrift hat weiters das Edelmetall der Mittelelektrode und das Verfahren zur Herstellung derselben zum Gegenstand.The closest prior art is further the EP 1 246 330 A2 to name, in which the main focus is on spark plug electrodes of certain dimensions. This document further has the noble metal of the center electrode and the method for producing the same the subject.

Das dort beschriebene Herstellungsverfahren besteht darin, dass die zur Verarbeitung vorgesehenen Edel- und Nichtedelmetalle in einer jeweils gewünschten Legierungszusammensetzung in Pulverform miteinander vermischt werden. Danach wird dieses Pulvergemisch in einem röhrenförmigen Behälter verdichtet, wonach der so erhaltene "Grünling" in einem Gasschmelzofen geschmolzen wird. Hierbei wird ein Legierungsbarren bzw. -rohling mit unterschiedlichen Legierungsanteilen erhalten.The production process described therein consists in that the precious and non-precious metals intended for processing are mixed together in powder form in a respectively desired alloy composition. Thereafter, this powder mixture is compacted in a tubular container, after which the "green compact" thus obtained is melted in a gas melting furnace. In this case, an alloy ingot or blank having different alloying proportions is obtained.

Dieser Rohling wird durch Heißschmieden, -walzen, -schneiden und -drahtziehen zu einem Draht weiterverarbeitet, von welchem dann scheibchenförmige Chips heruntergeschnitten werden, welche schließlich mittels Laserauf das Grundmetall aufgeschweißt werden.This blank is processed by hot forging, rolling, cutting and wire drawing into a wire, from which then sliced chips are cut, which are finally welded by laser to the base metal.

Gemäß dieser EP-A2 dient der Laser lediglich dazu, den Edelmetallchip auf die Zündkerzen-Mittelelektrode, welche gemäß den dortigen Angaben aus einer Nickellegierung, nämlich Inconel 600, besteht, aufzuschweißen. Es wird auf diese Weise ein Entladungsbereich mit einem Edelmetallchip mit beispielsweise 20 Gew-% Pt und einem durchgehend zwingenden Gehalt an Nickel mit bestimmten Dimensionen hergestellt. Die dort enthaltenen Angaben bezüglich Durchmesser und Höhe Mittelelektroden-Edelmetalls liegen innerhalb der Dimensionen des Entladungsbereiches üblicher KFZ-Zündkerzen. Es ist gemäß dem dortigen Anspruch 1 als Elektrodenmaterial eine Edelmetall-Legierung vorgesehen, welche überwiegend aus Iridium und zwingender Weise aus 0,5 bis 8 Gew-% Nickel besteht, wobei der Nickelgehalt, bevorzugt 1 bis 4 %, betragen soll. Gemäß den Ansprüchen der EP-A1 können außer dem Iridium und Nickel zusätzlich ein oder mehrere Element(e) aus der Gruppe Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru und Re in der Elektrodenlegierung enthalten sein, wobei 0,5 bis 40 Gew-% Rhodiumgehalt angegeben ist, also gemäß den dortigen Angaben Rh auch in Anteilen von unter 3 Gew-%.According to this EP-A2, the laser only serves to weld the noble metal chip onto the spark plug center electrode which, according to the information there, consists of a nickel alloy, namely Inconel 600. In this way, a discharge region is produced with a noble metal chip with, for example, 20% by weight of Pt and a continuously compelling content of nickel with specific dimensions. The information contained there in terms of diameter and height of the center electrode precious metal are within the dimensions of the discharge range of conventional automotive spark plugs. It is provided according to the local claim 1 as an electrode material, a precious metal alloy, which consists predominantly of iridium and compelling manner from 0.5 to 8% by weight nickel, the nickel content, preferably 1 to 4%, should be. According to the claims of EP-A1, in addition to the iridium and nickel, one or more element (s) from the group Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru and Re may additionally be contained in the electrode alloy, with 0.5 to 40% by weight indicating rhodium content is, according to the information there Rh also in shares of less than 3% by weight.

Gemäß dem Anspruch 8 der EP-A2, kann eine Ir/Ni-Legierung mit 0,5 bis 0,8 Gew-% Nickel und 1 bis 5 Gew-% Ru und Re zum Einsatz kommen und gemäß Anspruch 10 ist der Einsatz einer Iridium-Legierung als Chipwerkstoff vorgesehen, welche 0,5 bis 50 Gew-% Rh und ebenfalls zwingend 1 bis 4 Gew-% Nickel enthält.According to claim 8 of EP-A2, an Ir / Ni alloy having 0.5 to 0.8% by weight of nickel and 1 to 5% by weight of Ru and Re can be used, and according to claim 10, the use of an iridium Alloy provided as a chip material, which contains 0.5 to 50% by weight of Rh and also necessarily 1 to 4% by weight of nickel.

In der JP 2001 118660 A1 ist eine Zündkerze für Verbrennungsmotoren mit einem "Gehäuse" aus einer Rhodium-Legierung mit weiteren zusätzlichen Metallkomponenten, welches einen Isolator umhüllt bzw. umschließt, beschrieben. Dieses "Gehäuse" soll aus einer Rh-Legierung mit einem oder mehreren Legierungselement(en) mit Anteilen von 3 bis 38 Gew-% gebildet sein.In the JP 2001 118660 A1 is a spark plug for internal combustion engines with a "housing" of a rhodium alloy with other additional metal components, which encloses an insulator or encloses described. This "housing" is said to be formed of a Rh alloy having one or more alloying elements (s) in proportions of 3 to 38% by weight.

Als Vorteil dieser Ausführungsform ist dort angegeben, dass das Gehäuse aus einem oxidations- und hitzebeständigem Material gefertigt ist, welches Korrosion unterbindet, wodurch die Lebensdauer der Zündkerze gesteigert wird.As an advantage of this embodiment is stated there that the housing is made of an oxidation and heat resistant material, which prevents corrosion, whereby the life of the spark plug is increased.

Gemäß dieser JP-A1 sollen das Mittel- und das Masseelektrodenedelmetall der Zündkerze überwiegend aus Rhodium als Hauptkomponente und mindestens einem Metall aus der Gruppe Re, Ru, Ir, W, Mo und Os in Anteilen von 3 bis 38 Gew-% bestehen. Der hohe Anteil an Rhodium erhöht jedoch die Kosten der dort geoffenbarten Zündkerzen entscheidend.According to this JP-A1, the center and the ground electrode noble metal of the spark plug are mainly composed of rhodium as a main component and at least one of Group Re, Ru, Ir, W, Mo and Os in proportions of 3 to 38% by weight. The high proportion of rhodium, however, significantly increases the cost of the spark plugs disclosed therein.

Zur Herstellung der Legierungen gemäß dieser JP-A1 ist zu erwähnen, dass zum Verschweißen des Edelmetallplättchens mit der Basiselektrode dort die Lasertechnik erwähnt ist, was jedoch längst Stand der Technik war.For the production of the alloys according to this JP-A1, it should be mentioned that the laser technology is mentioned there for welding the noble metal chip to the base electrode, which, however, has long been state of the art.

Der Einsatz der Lasertechnik ist in der JP-A1 weiters für die Herstellung der dort geoffenbarten Rhodium-basierten Legierung beschrieben. Konkret ist dort beschrieben, dass bei der Herstellung die die späteren Legierungsbestandteile bildenden Metalle in einen feuerfesten Container eingebracht werden und dann wird der Inhalt desselben mittels Induktions-Erhitzung komplett geschmolzen. Nach dem Durchlaufen der Spule wird das Metallmaterial erstarren gelassen. Als alternative Heizenergiequellen für das Erschmelzen der Legierung sind dort Laser oder Plasma als weitere Möglichkeiten bloß erwähnt.The use of laser technology is further described in JP-A1 for the production of the rhodium-based alloy disclosed therein. Specifically, there is described that in the manufacture of the later alloying constituent metals are introduced into a refractory container and then the contents of the same is completely melted by induction heating. After passing through the coil, the metal material is allowed to solidify. As alternative sources of heat energy for the melting of the alloy there laser or plasma are merely mentioned as further possibilities.

Gemäß dieser JP-A1 wird ganz gezielt durch echtes Schmelzen eine homogene Legierung in Form eines Barrens hergestellt. Es ist dort auch erwähnt, dass das Schmelzen mehrfach wiederholt werden kann, um einen homogenen Barren der Legierung zu erhalten. Mittels gezielt durchgeführten Erstarrungsprozesses bzw. Umformprozesses am Barren wird dann ein Folgeprodukt erzeugt, bei welchem die verschiedenen Metallelemente schichtweise orientiert bzw. angeordnet sind: Diese schichtweise Metallstruktur, welche gemäß den dortigen Angaben als, insbesondere für die Stabilität wesentliche, Komponente Rhodium enthält, bildet den Kernpunkt dieser JP-A1.According to this JP-A1, a homogeneous alloy in the form of a billet is very specifically produced by true melting. It is also mentioned there that the melting can be repeated several times to obtain a homogeneous ingot of the alloy. By means of deliberately carried out solidification process or forming process on the billet, a secondary product is then produced, in which the various metal elements are oriented or arranged in layers: This layered metal structure, which according to the local information as, in particular essential for stability, component rhodium, forms the Key point of this JP-A1.

Es sei der Vollständigkeit halber erwähnt, dass gemäß dieser JP-A1 auch noch andere Verarbeitungsmethoden vorgesehen sind, welche entweder wieder von besagtem Barren oder von einer Stangenform ausgehen und es werden dort die Vor- und Nachteile unterschiedlicher Legierungsvariationen beschrieben. Dem dort beschriebenen Werkstoff liegt somit eine auf klassischem Wege schmelzmetallurgisch hergestellte Legierung mit einer schichtartigen Anordnung der Edelmetallkomponenten zu Grunde.It should be mentioned for the sake of completeness that according to this JP-A1 also other processing methods are provided which emanate either from said ingot or from a bar shape again and there are described the advantages and disadvantages of different alloy variations. The material described there is thus based on a conventionally produced alloy by fusion metallurgy with a layer-like arrangement of the noble metal components.

Auch die JP 2000 306654 A1 hat die Herstellung von Zündelektroden-Edelmetall-Legierungen und deren Weiterverarbeitung zum Gegenstand: Im Zusammenhang mit dem Verschweißen des Edelmetalls mit der Mittelelektrode ist auch dort die Lasertechnik erwähnt. Weiters sind dort Herstellungs- und Weiterbearbeitungs-Verfahren für den Erhalt eines sphärischen abgeflacht, sphärischen sowie ringförmigen Mittelelektrodenmetalls beschrieben. Weiters ist dort die Verbindungsstelle zwischen Elektroden-Edelmetall und zur Masseelektrode hin näher beschrieben.Also the JP 2000 306654 A1 The subject matter of the invention is the production of ignition electrode-precious metal alloys and their further processing. In connection with the welding of the noble metal to the center electrode, laser technology is also mentioned there. Furthermore, there are described manufacturing and further processing methods for obtaining a spherical flattened, spherical and annular central electrode metal. Furthermore, there the connection between electrode noble metal and the ground electrode is described in more detail.

Wenn auch die bekannten Elektroden bei üblichen Motoren an sich durchaus akzeptable Lebensdauerzeiten erreichen, hat es sich dennoch herausgestellt, dass die bekannten Zündelektroden-Materialien auf Basis von Iridium mit Rhodium-Anteil für Hochleistungs-Zündkerzen für stationäre Verbrennungskraftmaschinen den an sie im Dauer- und Lastwechselbetrieb gestellten Anforderungen nicht immer zu genügen imstande sind, und dass sie weiters den Nachteil haben, dass sie wegen des relativ hohen Rhodium-Gehaltes, der, wie oben schon angedeutet, vernünftigerweise mindestens 3 Masse-% betragen muss, relativ kostspielig sind, sodass die Einsparung jedes Zehntel-Prozents Rhodium zur Kostensenkung beiträgt.Although the known electrodes in conventional engines reach quite acceptable life times, it has been found that the known ignition electrode materials based on iridium with rhodium content for high-performance spark plugs for stationary internal combustion engines to them in continuous and load change operation As a result of the relatively high rhodium content, which, as indicated above, must reasonably be at least 3% by mass, it is relatively costly, so that the savings can be made every tenth of a percent of rhodium contributes to cost reduction.

Die Gründe für die Probleme bei stationären Hochleistungs-Anlagen dürften unter anderem darin liegen, dass das bekannte Elektrodenmaterial üblicherweise mit pulvermetallurgisch hergestellten Legierungen von Iridium, Rhodium und eventuell anderen Platin-Metallen gebildet ist. Es ist anzunehmen, dass das Abbrand- und Verdampfungs-Verhalten in Folge einer Art Spuren- bzw. Rest-Porigkeit von auf pulvermetallurgischem Wege produzierten Legierungen nicht ganz optimal ist, und dass die Leistungsfähigkeit und die Lebensdauer der Zündelektroden für Hochleistungs-Zündkerzen trotz deren besonders hoher Beanspruchung weiter verbessert werden können, wenn das im Elektrodenmaterial mit einer durch einen echten Schmelzprozess erhaltenen Legierung gebildet ist. Durch das Schmelzen lässt sich eine praktisch hundertprozentige Kompaktheit der Metallstruktur erreichen, was die Folge hat, dass dann auch bei Rhodium-Gehalten in Platinmetallen von unter 3 % Elektroden Zündkerzen erhalten werden können, deren Lebensdauer durch das auf diese Weise verbesserte Abbrand- und Verdampfungs-Verhalten besonders hoch ist.One of the reasons for the problems with stationary high-performance systems is that the known electrode material is usually formed with powder-metallurgically produced alloys of iridium, rhodium and possibly other platinum metals. It is to be assumed that the burning and evaporation behavior due to a kind of trace porosity of powder metallurgy produced alloys is not quite optimal, and that the performance and life of the ignition electrodes for high performance spark plugs despite their particular high stress can be further improved if this is formed in the electrode material with an alloy obtained by a real melting process. Melting makes it possible to achieve virtually 100% compactness of the metal structure, with the result that even with rhodium contents in platinum metals of less than 3% electrodes, spark plugs can be obtained whose service life is improved by the combustion and evaporation processes thus improved. Behavior is particularly high.

Gegenstand der Erfindung ist somit ein neues Verfahren zur Herstellung von Zünd- Elektroden bzw. -Elektrodenplättchen für Hochleistungs-Zündkerzen, für stationäre Verbrennungskraftmaschinen, vorzugsweise Gasmotoren, auf Basis einer Legierung aus mindestens zwei Metallen aus der Gruppe der Platinmetalle, von welchen mindestens eines Iridium und mindestens eines Rhodium ist, wobei in einem ersten Schritt zwei oder mehr Lagen, Schichten, Plättchen, Bleche, Bänder od.dgl. aus voneinander verschiedenen Metallen und/oder Legierungen von Metallen aus der Gruppe der Platinmetalle, durch Pressen und/oder Walzen unter hohem Druck und bei höherer Temperatur miteinander verbunden werden. Das Verfahren ist dadurch gekennzeichnet,

  • dass diese Lagen od.dgl. bei Temperaturen von 400 bis 1500°C unter Ausbildung eines flächigen Mehrfach-Adhäsions- und/oder Latenz-Schweiß-Verbunds oder aber durch Widerstands-Schweißen oder -Löten vollflächig spaltfrei aneinander gebunden werden, wobei mindestens eine der oben genannten Lagen, Schichten, Plättchen Bleche oder Bänder aus einer Rhodium und zumindest ein weiteres Platinmetall enthaltenden Legierung gebildet ist, und
  • dass in einem zweiten Schritt, bevorzugt in einer Schutzgas-Atmosphäre und/oder im Vakuum mittels Laser- oder Elektronen-Strahlung unter Aufrechterhaltung einer jeweils vorgegebenen oder gewünschten geometrischen Form, insbesondere der Plättchen- oder Bandform, ein An- und Ineinander-Verschmelzen der im Verbund vorliegenden Lagen od.dgl. zu einem schmelz-kompakten Legierungskörper mit einem Gesamt-Gehalt an Rhodium von 2,2 bis 2,8 Masse-%, vorzugsweise von 2,35 bis 2,7 Masse-%, vorgenommen wird.
The invention thus provides a novel process for the production of ignition electrodes or electrodes plates for high-performance spark plugs, for stationary internal combustion engines, preferably gas engines, based on an alloy of at least two metals from the group of platinum metals, of which at least one iridium and at least one rhodium, wherein in a first step, two or more layers, layers, platelets, sheets, tapes or the like. from different metals and / or alloys of metals from the group of platinum metals, are joined by pressing and / or rolling under high pressure and at a higher temperature. The method is characterized
  • that these layers or the like. at temperatures of 400 to 1500 ° C to form a surface multiple adhesion and / or latency welding composite or by resistance welding or soldering over the entire surface gap-free bound to each other, wherein at least one of the above layers, layers, platelets Plates or ribbons of a rhodium and at least one further platinum metal-containing alloy is formed, and
  • that in a second step, preferably in a protective gas atmosphere and / or in a vacuum by means of laser or electron radiation while maintaining a respective predetermined or desired geometric shape, in particular the platelet or ribbon shape, a fusion in and fusing in Composite present layers or the like. to a melt-compact alloy body having a total rhodium content of 2.2 to 2.8% by mass, preferably 2.35 to 2.7% by mass.

Es ist also erfindungsgemäß nicht vorgesehen, eine schon einen jeweils vorgesehenen Rhodium-Gehalt aufweisende Platinmetall-Rhodium-Legierung mit einem von vornherein schon vorhandenen, jeweils vorgesehenen Rhodium-Gehalt zuzukaufen und einzusetzen, was die Flexibilität in der Wahl der Zusammensetzung jedenfalls einschränken würde, oder aber gar eine derartige Legierung auf pulvermetallurgischem Wege selbst zu produzieren.Thus, according to the invention, it is not intended to buy and use a platinum-metal-rhodium alloy already having a respective rhodium content with a rhodium content already present, which would in any case restrict the flexibility in the choice of the composition, or but even to produce such an alloy by powder metallurgy itself.

Vielmehr macht es die Erfindung möglich, von einem handelsüblichen "reinen", also von einem Rein-Platinmetall, welches etwa 99,95 % Reinheit aufweist, und von vorgegebenen Legierungen eines Platinmetalls mit z.B. 10 Masse-% Rhodium auszugehen und, je nach Wahl der Materialstärke bzw. Dicke der beiden an- und ineinander zu schmelzenden Schichten, Lagen, Plättchen od. dgl., letztlich zu einer Platinmetall/Rhodium-Legierung mit genau jenem Rhodium-Gehalt zu gelangen, der angestrebt wird.Rather, the invention makes it possible to obtain from a commercial "pure", that is, from a pure platinum metal, which has about 99.95% purity, and from predetermined alloys of a platinum metal with e.g. 10% by mass of rhodium and, depending on the choice of material thickness or thickness of the two on and to be melted layers, layers, platelets od. Like., Ultimately to get a platinum metal / rhodium alloy with exactly that rhodium content which is aimed for.

An dieser Stelle soll darauf hingewiesen werden, dass im Folgenden als "Platinmetalle" bzw. als "Platin(-Rein)metalle" die Mitglieder der Gruppe der sechs "Platinmetalle" des Perioden-Systems der Elemente bezeichnet werden.It should be pointed out here that the following are referred to as "platinum metals" or "platinum (-rine) metals", the members of the group of the six "platinum metals" of the periodic table of elements.

Wenn von "Platinmetall-Legierungen" die Rede ist, sind damit Legierungen von zwei oder mehr Metallen aus der Gruppe der sechs Platinmetalle des Perioden-Systems der Elemente gemeint.When referring to "platinum-metal alloys," it is meant alloys of two or more metals from the group of six platinum metals of the periodic system of elements.

Wenn nur das "Platinmetall" Platin selbst gemeint ist, so ist in der folgenden Beschreibung und in den Ansprüchen nur von "Platin" die Rede.If only the "platinum metal" platinum itself is meant, then in the following description and in the claims only "platinum" is mentioned.

Durch den erfindungsgemäß vorgesehenen Einsatz von Reinmetall und vorgegebener Legierung für den Erhalt eines Metallkörpers mit einem jeweils gewünschten Gehalt an Rhodium kann eine besonders hohe Flexibilität bezüglich der Einsatzstoffe und deren Legierungs-Zusammensetzung erreicht werden, und, da heute Laser-Schmelzverfahren und deren Einsatz durchaus Routine-Methoden sind, stellt auch das erfindungsgemäß vorgesehene An- und Ineinanderschmelzen der beiden Lagen von Platin(-Rein)metall bzw. Platinmetall/Rhodium-Legierung zu unterschiedlichen, jeweils gewünschten Zusammensetzungen kein Problem dar.The inventively provided use of pure metal and given alloy for obtaining a metal body with a respective desired content of rhodium, a particularly high flexibility in terms of feedstocks and their alloy composition can be achieved, and, as today laser melting and their use quite routine -Methods, is also provided according to the invention intended arrival and melting of the two layers of platinum (-Rein) metal or platinum metal / rhodium alloy to different, respectively desired compositions no problem.

Durch die auf der und im Nahbereich um die Einwirkungsstelle der Laserstrahlung sehr rasche und intensive Schmelzerhitzung kommt es zu einer Art Mikro-Konvektions- und Rühreffekt und auf diese Weise zur Bildung eines tatsächlich kompakten Metallkörpers, bei welchem jeglicher Zutritt von Verbrennungsgasen und gegebenenfalls von darin enthaltenen Sauerstoffresten in den Metallkörper der Zündelektrode nicht mehr erfolgen kann. Auf diese Weise kommt es zu einer neuartigen Werkstoffpaarung, welche Vorteile hinsichtlich Kornwachstum und eines möglichen Abplatzens rekristallierter Edelmetallgefüges entlang der Korngrenzen bietet. Das ermöglicht es auch, dass trotz der erfindungsgemäß vorgesehenen Verminderung des Rhodium-Gehaltes auf 2,2 bis 2,8 Masse-%, bzw. insbesondere auf 2,35 bis 2,7 Masse-%, die Lebensdauer der neuen Zündelektroden wesentlich erhöht ist.Due to the very rapid and intense melt heating on and near the point of action of the laser radiation, a kind of microconvection and stirring effect occurs and in this way the formation of an actually compact metal body, in which any access of combustion gases and optionally of therein contained Oxygen residues in the metal body of the ignition electrode can not be done. To this This results in a novel material pairing, which offers advantages in terms of grain growth and a possible break-off of recrystallized precious metal structure along the grain boundaries. This also makes it possible, despite the inventively provided reduction of the rhodium content to 2.2 to 2.8% by mass, or in particular to 2.35 to 2.7% by mass, the life of the new ignition electrodes is substantially increased ,

Bezüglich des Einbaus der nach dem neuen Verfahren hergestellten Zündelektroden-Plättchen bei der Fertigung von Hochleistungs-Zündkerzen ist nun kurz auszuführen, dass derselbe in an sich bekannter Weise beispielsweise durch Aufschweißen auf den jeweiligen Elektrodenträger unter Einsatz einer Nickel-Basislegierung erfolgen kann.With regard to the installation of the manufactured according to the new method Zündelektroden-platelets in the manufacture of high-performance spark plugs is now briefly stated that the same can be done in a conventional manner, for example by welding to the respective electrode carrier using a nickel-based alloy.

Im Rahmen der Erfindung ist es besonders bevorzugt, für die das Rhodium enthaltende und liefernde Schicht im Platinmetall-Platinlegierungs-Verbund als Platinmetall/Rhodium-Legierung eine solche mit einem Rhodium-Gehalt von zumindest 5 Masse-% einzusetzen, wie dem Anspruch 2 zu entnehmen. Auf diese Weise kann z.B. eine handelsübliche 10 Masse-% Rhodium enthaltende Platinmetall-Legierung, insbesondere eine Iridium/Rhodium-Legierung, besonders vorteilhaft sein.In the context of the invention, it is particularly preferred to use for the rhodium-containing and supplying layer in platinum metal-platinum alloy composite as platinum metal / rhodium alloy such having a rhodium content of at least 5 mass%, as shown in claim 2 , In this way, for example, a commercially available 10 mass% rhodium-containing platinum metal alloy, in particular an iridium / rhodium alloy, be particularly advantageous.

Es hat sich gezeigt, dass sich insbesondere der Verbund aus Pt-Reinmetall und lr/Rh-Legierung aufgrund des Platinanteiles sehr gut für ein Aufschweißen auf einen Elektrodenträger eignet und diese Schweißverbindung insbesondere in korrosionsmäßig kritischen Gasen mit hohem Schwefel- oder Wasserstoffanteil wesentliche Vorteile gegenüber reinem IR- bzw. einer IR/Rh-Legierung ohne Platingehalt bietet.It has been found that in particular the composite of Pt pure metal and Ir / Rh alloy is very well suited for welding on an electrode carrier due to the platinum content and this weld, especially in corrosion critical gases with high sulfur or hydrogen content significant advantages over pure IR or an IR / Rh alloy without platinum content offers.

Was die jeweilige Dicke bzw. Materialstärke von zwei oder gegebenenfalls mehr beim An- und Ineinanderschmelzen mittels Laser- oder Elektronen-Strahl einzusetzenden, z.B. im Walzverbund vorliegenden, spaltfrei flächig miteinander verbundenen Schichten von Platin-Reinmetall und Platinmetall/Rhodium-Legierung betrifft, ist es günstig, sich dabei an die dem Anspruch 3 zu entnehmenden, das Verhältnis der Materialstärken der im Verbund einzusetzenden Schichten bzw. Lagen aus Platin(-Rein)metall und Platinmetall-Legierung zueinander und den Prozentsatz an Rhodium in der Platinmetall/Rhodium-Legierung miteinander verknüpfenden Gleichungen zu halten.It relates to the respective thickness or material thickness of two or more layers of platinum pure metal and platinum metal / rhodium alloy that are to be used by laser or electron beam, for example in rolling composites, which are present in the rolled composite favorable, referring to the claim 3, the ratio of the material thicknesses of the used in the composite layers or layers of platinum (-Rein) metal and platinum metal alloy to each other and the percentage of rhodium in the platinum metal / rhodium alloy linking together To hold equations.

Bezüglich der Richtung(en), von welcher (welchen) aus die Laser- oder Elektronen- Strahlung auf eine der im satten mechanischen oder Schweiß- bzw. Löt-Verbund vorliegenden Schichten bzw. Lagen von Platin(-Rein)metall/Rhodium-Legierung günstigerweise zuerst treffen soll, geben die Ansprüche 4 bis 6 näher Auskunft.Regarding the direction (s) of which (which) of the laser or electron radiation to one of the rich mechanical or welding or soldering composite layers or layers of platinum (-Rein) metal / rhodium alloy Conveniently meet first, give the claims 4 to 6 in more detail.

Hiezu ist zu bemerken, dass es sich gezeigt hat, dass beim Einsatz von Platin als Platin(-Rein)metall günstig ist, die jeweilige Strahlung von der Iridium/Rhodium-Legierungs-Seite her einwirken zu lassen. Auch bei Iridium als Platin(-Rein)metall lässt sich ein Elektrodenmaterial besonders hoher Qualität bei einer Einstrahlungsrichtung der jeweils eingesetzten Strahlung von der Seite der Schicht aus der Iridium/Rhodium-Legierung her erzielen.It should be noted that it has been found that when using platinum as platinum (-Rein) metal is favorable to let the respective radiation from the iridium / rhodium alloy side act. Even with iridium as platinum (-Rein) metal, an electrode material of particularly high quality can be achieved with an irradiation direction of the radiation used in each case from the side of the layer of the iridium / rhodium alloy.

Was im Rahmen der Erfindung bevorzugte Methoden der flächenüberstreichenden Führung der für das An- und Ineinanderschmelzen der im Verbund vorliegenden Lagen von Platin(-Rein)metall und Platinmetall-Legierung betrifft, so hat sich ein punktuelles, überlappend diskontinuierliches Abrastern oder ein überlappender diskontinuierlicher oder kontinuierlicher Vorschub eines Schmelzbandes bzw. einer Schmelzfront mit der jeweiligen Strahlung gemäß Anspruch 7 als durchaus praktikabel erwiesen, denn, wie gefunden wurde, kann bei dieser punktraster-artigen sequenziellen Aufheizung und Aufschmelzung des Platin(-Rein)metall/Platinmetall-Legierungs-Verbunds ein für hohe Homogenität der Metallmasse durchaus ausreichend sorgender Rühreffekt und somit auch die erfindungsgemäß angestrebte Kompaktierung der Legierungsstruktur erreicht werden.What in the context of the invention preferred methods of surface sweeping leadership for the arrival and melting together of the present in the composite layers of platinum (-Rein) metal and platinum metal alloy, so has a punctual, overlapping discontinuous scanning or overlapping discontinuous or continuous Advancement of a hot melt strip or a melt front with the respective radiation according to claim 7 has been found to be quite practical, because, as has been found in this punktraster-like sequential heating and melting of the platinum (-Rein) metal / platinum metal alloy composite for high homogeneity of the metal mass quite sufficient worrying stirring effect and thus the inventively desired compaction of the alloy structure can be achieved.

Der praktische Vorgang ist so, dass die Edelmetall-Verbundplättchen unter einer Laser- oder Elektronen-Strahlungsquelle positioniert werden und die energiereiche Strahlungsquelle nach Inbetriebnahme im Strahlungsfeld das Material bis zur Unterseite des Verbundes hindurch aufschmilzt und so die beiden im vorgelagerten Arbeitsgangmechanisch miteinander verbundenen Plättchen zusammenschmilzt. In diesem an- und ineinander- bzw. aufgeschmolzenen und wieder erstarrten Bereich entsteht somit eine neue Werkstoffpaarung.The practical process is such that the noble metal composite platelets are positioned under a laser or electron radiation source and the high-energy radiation source after commissioning in the radiation field melts the material through to the bottom of the composite and thus melts the two mechanically interconnected platelets in the upstream operation. In this on and in each other or melted and re-solidified area thus creates a new material pairing.

Danach wird die Strahlungsquelle mit entsprechender Teilung auf den nächsten Punkt im Raster gesetzt, und der dortige Bereich des Verbunds wird in gleicher Weise wie der vorhergehend bestrahlte kleine Bereich umgeschmolzen. Durch eine entsprechende dichte Abrasterung der Oberfläche mit dem energiereichen Strahl ist schließlich der gesamte Verbund-Bauteil in eine schmelz-kompakte Form übergeführt. Es entsteht auf diese Weise ein Bauteil mit einem neuen hochkompakten Legierungsgefüge und einer bisher nicht erreichten Art der intensiven Verteilung der Atome der verschiedenen Metalle der Platingruppe im Legierungs-Metallgitter.Thereafter, the radiation source with a corresponding pitch is set to the next point in the grid, and the local area of the composite is remelted in the same way as the previously irradiated small area. By a corresponding dense scanning of the surface with the high-energy beam finally the entire composite component is converted into a melt-compact form. This results in a component with a new highly compact alloy structure and an unprecedented type of intensive distribution of the atoms of the various metals of the platinum group in the alloy metal lattice.

Eine andere bewährte Methode des An- und Ineinanderschmelzens im Rahmen der Erfindung besteht in der - dem Anspruch 8 zu entnehmenden - Aufbringung einer kontinuierlich, über das Plättchen geführten Strahlungs-Schmelzfront, die beispielsweise über die gesamte Breite der Platin(-Rein)metall/Platinlegierungs-Verbundpläftchen reicht, wobei der Vorschub dieser Schmelzfront beispielsweise in Längsrichtung des Plättchens erfolgt. Hierbei lässt sich - etwa dem Zonenschmelzen vergleichbar - eine besonders homogene Legierungsstruktur erzielen, welche eine hohe Abbrand- und Abdampf-Resistenz der neuen Zündelektroden und somit eine besonders hohe Lebensdauerzeiten der mit den auf diese Weise hergestellten Elektroden ausgestatteten Zündkerzen sicherstellt.Another proven method of nipping and nipping in the invention consists in the - claim 8 to be taken - application of a continuous, guided over the wafer radiation melt front, for example, over the entire width of the platinum (-Rein) metal / platinum alloy -Verbundplakchen ranges, the feed of this melt front, for example, takes place in the longitudinal direction of the platelet. This can be - comparable to the zone melting - achieve a particularly homogeneous alloy structure, which ensures a high burn-off and Abdampf-resistance of the new ignition electrodes and thus a particularly long service life of the equipped with the electrodes produced in this way spark plugs.

Im Sinne der Nutzung der vollen Materialstärke des Verbunds der Plättchen ist eine Vorgangsweise gemäß dem Anspruch 9 besonders günstig, bei welcher ein gezieltes zonales Durchschmelzen bis auf die der Strahlungs-Einwirkungsseite entgegengesetzte Seite des Platin(-Rein)metall/Platinmetall-Legierungs-Verbundes gesorgt wird, wobei dieses Durchschmelzen selbstverständlich so kurz zu halten ist, dass es zu keinem Ausfließen von Flüssig-Metall aus der der Schmelzstrahlung ausgesetzten Zonen des Verbundes kommt.In terms of the use of the full material thickness of the composite of the platelets, a procedure according to claim 9 is particularly favorable, in which a targeted zonales melting except for the radiation exposure side opposite side of the platinum (-Rein) metal / platinum metal alloy composite worried Of course, this melting is to be kept so short that it is too no outflow of liquid metal from the molten radiation exposed zones of the composite comes.

Bezüglich der für das neue Verfahren zur Herstellung von Zündelektroden im Rahmen der Erfindung am vorteilhaftesten einzusetzenden Art und Energieleistung der Strahlung gibt der Anspruch 10 näher Auskunft.With regard to the type and energy performance of the radiation which is most advantageously used for the new method for producing ignition electrodes within the scope of the invention, claim 10 provides more details.

Einen weiteren Gegenstand der Erfindung stellen die mit nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren in dessen Basis-Variante gemäß Anspruch 1 und den verschiedenen oben und in den Ansprüchen 1 bis 10 beschriebenen, bevorzugten Ausführungs-Varianten hergestellten Zündelektroden ausgestatteten Hochleistungs-Zündkerzen gemäß Anspruch 11 dar.A further subject of the invention are the high-performance spark plugs according to claim 11, which are equipped with ignition electrodes produced by the method according to the invention in its basic variant according to claim 1 and the various preferred embodiments described above and in claims 1 to 10.

Schließlich bildet die Verwendung von nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren in dessen Basis-Variante gemäß Anspruch 1 bzw. nach den verschiedenen, oben und in den Ansprüchen 1 bis 10 beschriebenen, bevorzugten Ausführungs-Varianten hergestellten Zündelektroden für die Bestückung von Hochleistungs-Zündkerzen gemäß Anspruch 12 einen weiteren wesentlichen Gegenstand der vorliegenden Erfindung.Finally, the use of according to the inventive method in its basic variant according to claim 1 or according to the various, described above and in claims 1 to 10, preferred embodiments, ignition electrodes for the assembly of high performance spark plug according to claim 12 forms a another essential object of the present invention.

Claims (12)

  1. A method for the production of ignition electrodes or ignition electrode platelets for high-performance spark plugs for stationary internal combustion engines, preferably gas motors, on the basis of an alloy of at least two metals of the group of platinum metals, of which at least one is iridium and at least one is rhodium, wherein, in a first step, two or more layers, coats, platelets, metal sheets or bands of metals or alloys of metals different from one another of the group of platinum metals are interconnected by pressing and/or rolling under high pressure and at an elevated temperature, characterised in
    - that these layers or the like are bound to one another in a holohedral manner without any gap at temperatures of 400 to 1500°C either forming an laminar multi-adhesion composite arrangement and/or a latent welded composite arrangement, or by resistance welding or soldering, wherein at least one of the above mentioned layers, coats, platelets, metal sheets or bands is formed of an alloy which contains rhodium and at least another platinum metal, and
    - that in a second step, as preferred in an atmosphere of protective gas and/or in vacuum, partial fusing and fusing one into another of the composite layers or the like to a fusion compact alloy body having a total content of rhodium of 2.2 to 2.8 percent by mass, preferably of 2.35 to 2.7 percent by mass, is carried out by laser or electron irradiation, maintaining a respective pre-given or desired geometrical shape, particularly the platelet or band shape.
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a first one of the at least two layers, coats or the like of a substantially pure platinum metal of the group of platinum and iridium is partially fused and fused one into another with at least a second layer, coat or the like of an indium/rhodium alloy having a rhodium content of at least 5 percent by mass, preferably having a rhodium content of at least 10 percent by mass, by means of laser or electron irradiation.
  3. Method according to claim 1 or 3, characterised in that a first one of the at least two layers, coats or the like of a substantially pure platinum metal of the group of platinum and iridium is partially fused and fused one into another with a second layer, coat or the like of an iridium/rhodium alloy having a rhodium content of at least 5 percent by mass, by laser or electron irradiation, wherein the relationship of the material's thickness dm of the (pure) platinum metal layer, coat or the like to the thickness dl of the layer, coats or the like of iridium/rhodium alloy, with a rhodium content of it of x percent by mass corresponds
    for platinum at least to the equation of dm Pl = 0.4 x to 0.365 x - 1 . dl
    Figure imgb0003
    and for iridium at least to the equation of dm lr = 0.365 x to 0.34 x - 1 . dl .
    Figure imgb0004
  4. Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that for partial fusing and fusing one into another of the layers, coats or the like of (pure) platinum metal and platinum metal alloy, the laser or electron irradiation is directed from one side or from both sides of the composite arrangement of layers or coats onto or into it.
  5. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that during partial fusing and fusing one into another of the layers, coats or the like of (pure) platinum metal and a rhodium containing platinum metal alloy, in the case of use of platinum as the (pure) platinum metal layer, the laser or electron irradiation is directed from the side of the iridium/rhodium alloy onto or into the composite arrangement of (pure) platinum metal and iridium/rhodium alloy.
  6. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that during partial fusing and fusing one into another of the layers, coats or the like of pure platinum metal and a rhodium containing platinum metal alloy, in the case of use of iridium as the pure metal layer, the laser or electron irradiation is directed from the side of the iridium/rhodium alloy onto or into the composite arrangement of (pure) platinum metal and iridium/rhodium alloy.
  7. Method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that partial fusing and fusing one into another of the layers, coats or the like of (pure) platinum metal and a rhodium containing platinum metal alloy is carried out in the form of quasi-spot fusing zones or band or strip fusing zones generated sequentially by discontinuous laser or electron irradiation, which overlap each other, preferably by 50 to 75% in total, and correspond to the respective beam cross-sectional surface and beam shape.
  8. Method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that partial fusing and fusing one into another of the layers, coats or the like bond to one another of (pure) platinum metal and a rhodium containing platinum metal alloy is carried out in the form of a band-like partial fusing zone or fusing one into another zone front applied in continuous advance and generated by continuous laser or electron irradiation.
  9. Method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that partial fusing and fusing one into another of the layers, coats or the like bond to one another of (pure) platinum metal and a rhodium containing platinum metal alloy is carried out by zonal melting including substantially the entire layer, coat or the like, which is turned away from the source of laser or electron radiation, substantially up to the outer surface which is turned away from its side of radiation impact.
  10. Method according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it is a solid state laser, preferably including a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, particularly having a pulse energy of between 4 and 25 Joule, or including a CO2 laser, as a radiation source for partial fusing and fusing one into another of the layers, coats or the like bond to one another of (pure) platinum metal and rhodium containing platinum metal alloy with which it is worked.
  11. High-performance spark plug for stationary internal combustion motors, preferably (industrial) gas motors, comprising ignition electrodes inclusive a middle electrode and at least one, preferably at least two, earth electrode(s) on the basis of an alloy of at least two metals of the group of platinum metals, of which at least one is iridium and at least one is rhodium, characterised in
    that the ignition electrodes are formed by an alloy which comprises a content of rhodium of 2.2 to 2.8 percent by mass, preferably of 2.35 to 2.7 percent by mass, obtained by a method according to any of claims 1 to 10 and comprising at least one metal of the group of platinum metals of the periodic table of the elements, preferably platinum and/or iridium.
  12. The use of an alloy having a content of rhodium of 2.2 to 2.8 percent by mass, preferably of 2.35 to 2.7 percent by mass, which comprises at least one metal of the group of platinum metals of the periodic table of the elements, preferably platinum and/or iridium, for ignition electrodes of high-performance spark plugs for stationary internal combustion motors, preferably (industrial) gas motors, with the proviso that the ignition electrodes are obtained in accordance with a method according to any of claims 1 to 10.
EP03781989A 2002-12-12 2003-12-10 Method for the production of electrodes used for high-performance spark plugs Expired - Lifetime EP1573873B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT18552002 2002-12-12
AT0185502A AT412690B (en) 2002-12-12 2002-12-12 METHOD FOR PRODUCING ELECTRODES FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPARK PLUGS
PCT/AT2003/000365 WO2004054055A1 (en) 2002-12-12 2003-12-10 Method for the production of electrodes used for high-performance spark plugs

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1573873A1 EP1573873A1 (en) 2005-09-14
EP1573873B1 true EP1573873B1 (en) 2011-02-09

Family

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EP03781989A Expired - Lifetime EP1573873B1 (en) 2002-12-12 2003-12-10 Method for the production of electrodes used for high-performance spark plugs

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EP (1) EP1573873B1 (en)
AT (2) AT412690B (en)
AU (1) AU2003289743A1 (en)
DE (1) DE50313467D1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004054055A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2210320A4 (en) * 2007-11-15 2013-03-06 Fram Group Ip Llc Iridium alloy for spark plug electrodes
DE102010032412B4 (en) * 2010-07-27 2012-03-08 Dkt Verwaltungs-Gmbh Method for producing a starting electrode for a prechamber spark plug and prechamber spark plug

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2877035B2 (en) * 1995-06-15 1999-03-31 株式会社デンソー Spark plug for internal combustion engine
JP2000306654A (en) * 1999-04-16 2000-11-02 Ngk Spark Plug Co Ltd Manufacture for spark plug, and spark plug
JP4217372B2 (en) * 1999-08-12 2009-01-28 日本特殊陶業株式会社 Spark plug
US6864622B2 (en) * 2001-03-28 2005-03-08 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Spark plug
JP4267837B2 (en) * 2001-03-28 2009-05-27 日本特殊陶業株式会社 Spark plug and manufacturing method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004054055A1 (en) 2004-06-24
AU2003289743A1 (en) 2004-06-30
ATE498223T1 (en) 2011-02-15
DE50313467D1 (en) 2011-03-24
EP1573873A1 (en) 2005-09-14
ATA18552002A (en) 2004-10-15
AT412690B (en) 2005-05-25

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