Effects of hot-rolling reduction on microstructure, texture and magnetic properties of high silicon steel produced by strip casting

Non-oriented Fe-7.1wt.% Si as-cast strips were produced by twin-roll strip casting process. Then the as-cast strips were hot rolled with different reductions, followed by warm rolling and final annealing. The microstructure, texture evolution and magnetic properties were investigated in detail. The texture of hot rolled sheets with 40% reduction showed strongest {001}<110> texture, whereas the dominated texture was turned into {110}<001> and {110}<112>as the reduction was increased to 56% and 68%. After warm rolling and annealing, the average grain size was decreased firstly and then increased with an increase in hot rolling reduction. In the case of 40% hot rolling reduction, the recrystallization texture was dominated by strong γ (<111>//ND) texture. With an increase in hot rolling reduction, the γ texture was gradually weakened while α (<110>//RD) texture was enhanced. In addition, relatively stronger {100} texture was presented in the sheet of 68% hot rolling reduction. The highest B₅₀ value attained was 1.66 T and the lowest P_10/400 was 24.26 W/kg at a reduction of 56%. (paper)