Metal member, a terminal, a wire connecting structure and a method of manufacturing a terminal

1. A metal member comprising:

a base material composed of one of copper and a copper alloy;

a white metal layer provided on the base material at a part or an entirety thereof; and

an oil film provided on the white metal layer,

the white metal layer having a thickness in a range of 0.01 μm to 0.80 μm,

a surface of the white metal layer having an arithmetic mean roughness in a range of 0.6 μm to 1.2 μm,

the oil film having an electric double-layer capacitance in a range of 1.5 μF/cm 2 to 7.0 μF/cm 2 .

2. The metal member according to claim 1 , wherein the white metal layer comprises at least one layer selected from a group consisting of an Sn layer, an Sn alloy layer, an Ni layer, and an Ni alloy layer.

3. A terminal formed from the metal member according to claim 1 , the terminal comprising:

a connector portion adapted to mate with another terminal;

a tubular crimp portion adapted to securely crimp onto a wire; and

a transition portion that links the connector portion and the tubular crimp portion,

the tubular crimp portion being formed as a tubular body having a closed end.

4. A wire connecting structure formed by joining the terminal of claim 3 and a coated wire, wherein the tubular crimped portion is crimped onto the coated wire.

5. The wire connecting structure according to claim 4 , wherein a conductor portion of the coated wire is composed of one of aluminum and an aluminum alloy.

6. A method of manufacturing a terminal, comprising:

punching a metal member to form a cut-out section, the metal member comprising a plate, a white metal layer, and an oil film, the plate being of a base material composed of one of copper and a copper alloy, the white metal layer being at least partially provided on the plate, the oil film being provided on the white metal layer, the white metal layer having a thickness in a range of 0.01 μm to 0.80 μm, a surface of the white metal layer having an arithmetic mean roughness in a range of 0.6 μm to 1.2 μm, the oil film having an electric double-layer capacitance in a range of 1.5 μF/cm 2 to 7.0 μF/cm 2 ;

bending the cut-out section to form a tubular body, the tubular body having a butted portion, a lapped portion, and an insertion opening portion;

welding the butted portion of the tubular body, the white metal layer on the plate being at least where the butted portion is welded; and

welding the lapped portion at an end portion of the tubular body that is opposite to the insertion opening portion to form a tubular crimp portion, the white metal layer on the plate being at least where the lapped portion is welded.

7. The method of manufacturing a terminal according to claim 6 , wherein the white metal layer is at least one layer selected from a group consisting of a Sn layer, a Sn alloy layer, a Ni layer and a Ni alloy layer.

8. The method of manufacturing a terminal according to claim 6 , wherein the welding is performed by a fiber laser.

9. A method of manufacturing a terminal, comprising:

punching a metal member to form a cut-out section, the metal member comprising a plate being of a base material composed of one of copper and a copper alloy, and a white metal layer at least partially provided on the plate, the white metal layer having a thickness in a range of 0.01 μm to 0.80 μm, a surface of the white metal layer having an arithmetic mean roughness in a range of 0.6 μm to 1.2 μm;

bending the cut-out section to form a tubular body, the tubular body having a butted portion, a lapped portion, and an insertion opening portion;

providing an oil film on the white metal layer, the oil film having an electric double-layer capacitance in a range of 1.5 μF/cm 2 to 7.0 μF/cm 2 ;

welding the butted portion of the tubular body, the white metal layer on the plate being at least where the butted portion is welded; and

welding the lapped portion at an end portion of the tubular body opposite to the insertion opening portion to form a tubular crimp portion, the white metal layer on the plate being at least where the lapped portion is welded.

10. The method of manufacturing a terminal according to claim 9 , wherein the white metal layer is at least one layer selected from a group consisting of a Sn layer, a Sn alloy layer, a Ni layer, and a Ni alloy layer.

11. The method of manufacturing a terminal according to claim 9 wherein the welding is performed by a fiber laser.

12. A method of manufacturing a terminal, comprising:

punching a metal member to form a cut-out section, the metal member comprising a plate being of a base material composed of one of copper and a copper alloy, and a white metal layer at least partially provided on the plate, the white metal layer having a thickness in a range of 0.01 μm to 0.80 μm, a surface of the white metal layer having an arithmetic mean roughness in a range of 0.6 μm to 1.2 μm;

providing an oil film on the white metal layer while bending the cut-out section to form a tubular body, the oil film having an electric double-layer capacitance in a range of 1.5 μF/cm 2 to 7.0 μF/cm 2 , the tubular body having a butted portion, a lapped portion, and an insertion opening portion;

welding the butted portion of the tubular body, the white metal layer on the plate being at least where the butted portion is welded; and

welding the lapped portion at an end portion of the tubular body opposite to the insertion opening portion to form a tubular crimp portion, the white metal layer on the plate being at least where the lapped portion is welded.

13. The method of manufacturing a terminal according to claim 12 , wherein the white metal layer is at least one layer selected from a group consisting of a Sn layer, a Sn alloy layer, a Ni layer, and a Ni alloy layer.

14. The method of manufacturing a terminal according to claim 12 , wherein the welding is performed by a fiber laser.