Terminal, a wire connecting structure and a method of manufacturing the terminal

A terminal comprising:

• a connector portion adapted to mate with another terminal;
• a tubular crimp portion adapted to crimp and join with an electric wire;
• and
• a transition portion joining the connector portion and the tubular crimp portion,
• the tubular crimp portion being composed of a metal member including a base material and a coating layer formed on the base material,
• the base material being composed of one of copper and a copper alloy and having a thickness in a range of 0.20 mm to 1.40 mm,
• the coating layer being composed of one of tin, a tin alloy, nickel, a nickel alloy, silver and a silver alloy and having a thickness in a range of 0.2 μm to 3.0 μm,
• the tubular crimp portion having a weld portion formed by butt welding the metal member,
• the weld portion having, in a cross section of the weld portion perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the terminal, a phase existing therein of one of tin, a tin alloy, nickel, a nickel alloy, silver and a silver alloy, the phase being of a size greater than 0.01 μm2,
• the tubular crimp portion being formed into a closed tubular body in which one end opposite to an electric wire insertion opening is closed.