Cube texture evolution and magnetic properties of 6.5 wt% Si electrical steel fabricated by surface energy and three-stage rolling method

0.1 mm-thick 6.5 wt% Si electrical steel sheets with strong cube texture were successfully produced by surface energy effect and three-stage rolling method. The texture evolution and magnetic properties during the processing were briefly investigated, special attention was paid on the development of cube texture. The study shows that cube texture component was originated from the deformed cube grains existed in center layer of hot rolled sheet. During three-stage rolling and intermediate annealing, the cube texture component was enhanced. Attributed to the frequencies as well as size advantages of cube recrystallized grains during nucleation, a homogeneous microstructure associated with cube texture was produced after primary recrystallization. The mechanism responsible for the microstructure and texture of primary recrystallization was explained by strain induced boundary migration. After high temperature annealing for a long time, complete secondary recrystallization microstructure consisting of entirely large cube grains was produced by means of the surface energy effect. Both the strong cube texture and proper grain size enable final annealed sheets have excellent magnetic properties. The present study provides a new efficient way to optimize the recrystallization texture and improve the magnetic properties of double grain-oriented 6.5 wt% Si electrical steel.