Thermal, ping pong, metal fragmentation.
Ok, I see a book that discusses this.
Possibly all three are involved. Analyzing their exact contribution to a given ignition system is probably difficult given the conditions of the reactions taking place, but it's a solvable problem.
I'd want more detailed info first. The book I found seemed to have been written by some at Champion, and could contain lots of marketing info that isn't really truthful.
I would also say that this really has nothing to do with the audibility of different wires in home stereo systems. Nor does it indicate that the audibility (or inaudibility) of different wires is somehow unknown or unknowable.
Wire is a solved problem. The slight inaudible differences that cable vendors magnify into supposed large differences by marketing are simply not worth worrying about.
There are plenty of real problems to worry about in our search for better reproduction of music. Let's not get lost in the trees and therefore not see the forest.
The recordings you choose to buy and your speakers and listening room are what makes the big difference between good sound and bad.
Too many audiophiles obsess over tiny little differences and then just ignore the huge problems staring them in the face. It just makes one shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
