Enhanced {100} Recrystallization Texture in Strip‐Cast Nonoriented Electrical Steel by Two‐Stage Annealing

Abstract

Herein, nonoriented electrical steel with enhanced {100} texture is prepared by two‐stage annealing, i.e., prerecovery annealing and then recrystallization annealing. The impact of the annealing process on microstructure, texture, and magnetic properties is investigated using optical microscopy, electron backscattered diffraction, and X‐ray diffraction. It is found that the large {100} deformed matrix with low stored energy begins to recrystallize after the matrix with high stored energy (such as shear bands) is completely recrystallized. Strong Cube and Goss ({110}<001>) texture is developed in the final sheet after conventional annealing. The introduction of prerecovery annealing decreases the stored energy of deformed microstructure and then retarders the start of recrystallization. The final annealed sheet subjected to prerecovery annealing exhibits enhanced multicomponent {100} recrystallization texture containing Cube and {001}<120>–{001}<130> and {001}<110> components. The volume fraction of {100} texture is increased to 22.7–33.6%. It can be attributed to the fact that the prerecovery annealing promotes the growth of new {100} grains recrystallized in the deformed matrix with low stored energy and activates the extended recovery behavior of {001}<110> deformed grains. This improvement of {100} recrystallization texture significantly increases the magnetic induction at the 45° direction and reduces the magnetic anisotropy.