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Page 1 of 2 Images and text contributed by DENSO, Inc. 
1. Insulator
2. Copper-Cored Center Electrode
3. Tapered Cut
4. Five-Rib Design
5. U-Groove Ground Electrode
6. 360° Laser Welding
7. Copper-Glass Seal
8. Patented Iridium Center Electrode
9. 100% Pre-Fired Laser Welding  The 0.4mm Iridium tip that generates high performance of Iridium Power is an alloy with a very high melting point. Therfore, ordinary resistance welding cannot be used because the Iridium alloy does not melt enough and adequate welding strength cannot be guaranteed.
The DENSO patented 360° Laser Welding process employs a high-energy laser so reliable that the electrode resists wear in the worst conditions. Ultra Fine Electrode By harnessing the power of Iridium, DENSO is suddenly able to shrink the surface area of the center electrode - the critical component of a spark plug. Unlike a typical platinum plug that has a 1.1mm diameter center electrode, DENSO Iridium Power plugs have the world's smallest center electrode measuring 0.4mm in diameter. This means that the voltage requirements are decreased while firing performance is greatly improved.
U-Groove Technology  Denso's patented U-Groove design changed the industry standard in the mid-1970s by providing a better design that virtually eliminates erratic starts caused by poor fuel mixture.
The U-Groove results in less flame dissipation making the spread of the flame nucleus easier and therefore yielding greater firing energy. It gives the flame a groove to grow in, thereby creating a larger flame front for a complete combustion. On a conventional plug, the flat electrode design crushes the spark, and the overall volume of the flash front is smaller. The conventional method to improve firing was to increase the spark gap. This has a negative effect on the spark. With a U-Groove firing can be greatly improved without increasing the spark gap. Tapered Cut To help improve ignitability, DENSO minimized the portion of the ground electrode that comes in contact with the flame nucleus. Because the area of the ground electrode where the tapered cut comes into contact with the flame nucleus is small, the heat lost to the electrode is lessened and firing performance improves dramatically. The surface area and weight of the ground electrode tip is reduced along with the load in terms of heat and vibrations. This means the spark plug can cope with heavier driving conditions.
SAE Comparison of electrode sizes and voltage requirements  | | Iridium Plug (0.4) |
|  | | Iridium Plug (0.7) |
|  | | Platium Plug (1.1) |
|  | | Nickel Plug (2.5) |
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Fewer Volts Means More Amps DENSO Iridium spark plugs require on average 5,000 lower volts to fire than conventional spark plugs. Less power is required to fire DENSO Iridium Power Plugs. The combination of Denso's patented U-Groove technology, the use of Iridium alloy, the tapered cut, and the ultra fine 0.4mm diameter eletrode translates to increased horsepower throughout the dyno range.  | | Adam Saruwatari |
Tuner's Tale for Adam Saruwatari "Thank you for the opportunity to try the DENSO Iridium Power spark plugs in Adam Saruwatari's racing NSX engine. We performed dyno testing at Kenny Duttwieler's and were very pleased with the engine performance using the DENSO plugs. The plugs helped us solve a misfire situation under high boost consequently increasing the power of the engine significantly. In addition to the increased performance we are able to run the plugs longer between changes. We will be running the Iridium plugs throughout the 2001 & 2002 season." -John P. Concialdi AEM Engineering Division. Check our stock of Denso Iridium spark plugs.
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