Secondary recrystallization of {310} texture and enhanced magnetostriction in Fe–Ga alloy thin sheet

Abstract

Sharp {310}<001> texture and enhanced magnetostriction were achieved in Fe–Ga thin sheets by secondary recrystallization. The evolution of texture, inhibitor, and magnetostriction of Fe–Ga thin sheet during the annealing process were analyzed. A fine and homogeneous microstructure with a strong γ-fiber and weak Goss and {310}<001> texture was produced. Goss and {310}<001> texture did not exhibit any advantage in terms of the grain size and number over the matrix grains in the primary recrystallization, but {310}<001> texture is superior to Goss texture in grain size and number. Statistical results show that a large number of MnS and NbC precipitates with the size range of 20–140 nm dispersedly distributed in the primary matrix grains thus inhibiting the normal grain growth of primary grains sufficiently. The microstructure and texture evolution during the annealing process indicates that the secondary recrystallization of {310}<001> texture is related to the combination of grain size, quantity, and high energy grain boundary characteristic of {310}<001> texture. The secondary recrystallization of {310}<001> texture is conducive to the improvement of the magnetostrictive coefficient and a maximum magnetostriction of 240 ppm was obtained in Fe–Ga thin sheet after final annealing.