Microstructure, Texture and Inhibitors of the As-Cast and Hot Rolled Grain-Oriented Silicon Steel by Strip Casting

Abstract

The microstructure and texture evolution of the as-cast and hot rolled grain-oriented silicon steel strips was investigated, and the precipitation of the inhibitors of the hot rolled strips was clarified. The results showed that the microstructure of the as-cast strip was characterized by coarse columnar grains with strong {001}<0vw> fiber texture. The microstructure of hot rolled strips was composed of ferrite and pearlite and the microstructure was gradually refined with increasing hot rolling reduction. In the hot rolled strips, α and γ fiber textures were enhanced at the expense of initial {001}<0vw> fiber texture and Goss texture was generated in the surface and sub-surface layer with increasing hot rolling reduction. Besides, a great number of dispersed MnS particles with the size of 20-30nm were observed in the hot rolled strips. These MnS particles could act as the effective inhibitors during the second recrystallization annealing of the grain-oriented silicon steel.