The present invention relates to a
spark plug having good combustible-gas ignitability even when the
spark plug is downsized and to a method for high-yield manufacturing of a
spark plug with good combustible-gas ignitability. There is provided according to one aspect of the present invention a spark plug 1 having a center
electrode 2, an insulator 3 and a
metal shell 4 and satisfying the following conditions (1) to (5). There is provided according to another aspect of the present invention a manufacturing method of a spark plug including the step of producing an insulator by preparing a
raw material powder in such a manner that the
particle size distribution ratio (90% volume
diameter / 10% volume
diameter) between particles of 10% volume
diameter and particles of 90% volume diameter in the
raw material powder is 3.6 to 5.2, and then, press-forming and
sintering the prepared
raw material powder.Condition (1): The insulator has a wall thickness T of 0.3 to 1.1 mm at an imaginary plane including a front end face of the
metal shell.Condition (2): A region of the insulator extending from a front end of the insulator to at least 2 mm rear from the imaginary plane is formed of an
alumina-based sintered body containing a Si component, a
rare earth element component and at least two kinds of Group 2 element components and being substantially free from a B component.Condition (3): The
mass ratio RRE of a
mass of the
rare earth element component to a total
mass of the Si component, the Group 2 element components and the
rare earth element component in the
alumina-based sintered body is 0.15 to 0.45.Condition (4): The
mass ratio R2 of a total mass of the components of the Group 2 elements to a mass of the Si component in the
alumina-based sintered body is 0.25 or greater.Condition (5): The alumina-based sintered body includes, in a
grain boundary phase thereof, an
aluminate crystal containing the
rare earth element component.