Texture control of 3.04%-Si electrical steel sheets by local laser melting and directional solidification

〈100〉 axes of the rod-shaped grains of laser irradiated cold-rolled 3.04%-Si steel sheets are parallel to either solidification direction or normal direction of the steel sheet. The portion of desirable textures was enhanced by controlling of atmosphere and the direction of heat flow. The area fraction of the texture, which has 〈100〉 axis parallel to normal direction of the steel sheet, in the laser-affected steel sheets in air and argon atmosphere increased up to 23.4% and 26.3%, respectively, compared to a conventionally annealed steel sheet (8.2%).