Microstructure and Texture Evolution of Strip-Cast and Hot-Rolled Fe-3 %Si Steel Sheet

Abstract

The microstructure and texture evolution of Fe-3 %Si nonoriented silicon steel fabricated by twin-roll casting and hot rolling was investigated. Inhomogeneous microstructure and texture were formed through thickness of both as-cast and hot-rolled strips. In as-cast strip, the microstructure through thickness was characterized by coarse grains at surface layer and fine equiaxed grains at center layer. Surface layer displayed both recrystallization texture of {112} and {110} components and solidification texture of {100} component. The fine equiaxed grains were sandwiched between two coarse-grain layers, which showed recrystallization texture only containing strong {112} and relatively weak {100} and {110} components. After hot rolling, the surface layer exhibited fine equiaxed grains with average size of 50 μm. The major texture components of surface layer were {112} and {110} . Coarse elongated grains were observed at center layer with strong {100} texture. The mechanism of microstructure and texture inhomogeneity in both as-cast and hot-rolled strips is proposed.