Texture evolution during the processing of electrical steels with 0.5% Si and 1.25% Si

Abstract

The development of the crystallographic texture in the processing of a 0.5% Si semi-processed steel sheet has been investigated. The results were also compared with those of a steel with 1.25% Si and 0.22% Al, to verify the effect of the chemical composition. The texture was examined after the following steps: i) hot band ii) 80-90% cold reduction iii) annealed iv) after skin pass v) after final annealing. The texture is very similar for both chemical compositions. The hot band presents an almost random texture. After 80-90% cold reduction, a typical rolling texture of steels is observed, containing the fibers 〈110〉//RD and 〈111〉//ND. After annealing, the fiber 〈111〉//ND is the most important component, but now with maximum at {111}〈112〉. After skin pass and final annealing, the main components are the fiber {111}〈uvw〉 and Goss (110). The results indicate that the Goss intensity tends to increase for smaller values of skin pass (where final grain size also increases). The change of Si content (from 0.5% up to 1.25% Si) and of Al (from ∼0 upto 0.22%) did not produce significant variation about the texture components.