Metal particle for joint material

A metal particle for joint material, wherein the metal particle forms a joint structure that joins a metallic body or an alloy body;

• the metal particle for joint material consisting essentially of:
• a basal phase that contains:
• Sn;
• an Sn—Cu alloy;
• and
• Sb or Bi or Ga,
• and
• an intermetallic compound crystal that contains Sn, Cu, Ni, Ge, Si and Ti, included in the basal phase,
• the metal particle having a chemical composition given by 0.7 to 15% by mass of Cu, 0.1 to 5% by mass of Ni, 0.1 to 4.35% by mass of Sb or Bi or Ga, 0.001 to 0.1% by mass of Ge, 0.001 to 0.1% by mass of Si, 0.001 to 0.1% by mass of Ti, 0.1% by mass or less of an inevitable impurity, and the balance of Sn,
• the basal phase having a chemical composition given by 85 to 99.9% by mass of Sn, 5% by mass or less of Cu, and 0.1 to 14% by mass of Sb or Bi or Ga,
• the intermetallic compound crystal residing in the basal phase so as to be included therein,
• the metal particle having a particle size of 1 μm to 50 μm, and
• at least parts of the basal phase and the intermetallic compound crystal forming an endotaxial joint;
• wherein the intermetallic compound crystal, inclusive of an endotaxial joint area, has a chemical composition given by:
• 50 to 70% by mass of Sn;
• 30 to 50% by mass of Cu;
• 0 to 3% by mass of Sb;
• 0.1 to 6.5% by mass of Ni;
• 0.001 to 0.1% by mass of Ge;
• 0.001 to 0.1% by mass of Si;
• and
• 0.001 to 0.1% by mass of Ti,
• wherein at least one of the Sn—Cu alloy of the basal phase, and the intermetallic compound forms an epitaxial joint with a connecting member,
• wherein the Sb or Bi or Ga contained in the basal phase inhibits shrinkage of the basal phase, and
• wherein the intermetallic compound crystal in the metal particle accounts for 20 to 60% by mass of the whole metal particle.