The {111} 〈211〉 Texture in Silicon Steel by Secondary Recrystallization

Abstract

Secondary recrystallization in silicon steel is a phenomenon attributed to either a second-phase or surface-energy mechanism, and tertiary recrystallization is attributed to a surface-energy mechanism. The large-grained structure and preferred orientations resulting from these phenomena and reported in the literature have involved either a (100) or (110) plane in the plane of the sheet. Recently a {111} 〈211〉 or cube-on-corner texture, apparently developed by a secondary-recrystallization mechanism in the presence of selenium or selenide vapors, has been observed. The grain structure is reminiscent of that observed in cube-textured silicon steel and, in fact, when annealed in the absence of selenium or selenide vapors, cube texture did develop. Evidence is strong that a surface-energy mechanism is involved. Material with this texture is nearly magnetically isotropic as demonstrated by a maximum magnetic torgue of 7000 dyn·cm/cm3 compared to about 30 000 dyn·cm/cm3 for conventional nonoriented electrical steels. Magnetic tests on 5-mil-thick samples with the {111} 〈211〉 texture revealed a core loss of 0.44 W/lb/60 and permeability of 12 800 at 10 kG.