ELECTRICALLY HEATED CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME

摘要

Provided is an electrically heated catalytic converter provided with: a supporting element which is formed from ceramics and supports a catalyst; a pair of surface electrodes on the outer circumference of the supporting element, said pair of surface electrodes facing each other and extending in the axial direction of the supporting element; and wiring that supplies electricity from outside to the surface electrodes. The supporting element is electrically heated via the surface electrodes. Metal expansile members provided so as to extend in the axial direction of the supporting element are embedded in the surface electrodes. According to this constitution, the spread of electric current in the axial direction of the supporting element is maintained even if cracks in the circumferential direction of the supporting element occur in the surface electrodes.