Characterization of Microstructure and Texture in Grain-Oriented High Silicon Steel by Strip Casting

Abstract

Grain-oriented 4.5 wt% Si and 6.5 wt% Si steels were produced by strip casting, warm rolling, cold rolling, primary annealing, and secondary annealing. Goss grains were sufficiently developed and covered the entire surface of the secondary recrystallized sheets. The microstructure and texture was characterized by OM, EBSD, TEM, and XRD. It was observed that after rolling at 700 °C, the 6.5 wt% Si steel exhibited a considerable degree of shear bands, whereas the 4.5 wt% Si steel indicated their rare presence. After primary annealing, completely equiaxed grains showing strong γ-fiber texture were presented in both alloys. By comparison, the 6.5 wt% Si steel showed smaller grain size and few favorable Goss grains. Additionally, a higher density of fine precipitates were exhibited in the 6.5 wt% Si steel, leading to a ~30-s delay in primary recrystallization. During secondary annealing, abnormal grain growth of the 6.5 wt% Si steel occurred at higher temperature compared to the 4.5 wt% Si steel, and the final grain size of the 6.5 wt% Si steel was greater. The magnetic induction B ₈ of the 4.5 wt% Si and the 6.5 wt% Si steels was 1.75 and 1.76 T, respectively, and the high-frequency core losses were significantly improved in comparison with the non-oriented high silicon steel.