Texture and magnetic properties improvement of a 3% Si non-oriented electrical steel by Sb addition

The influence of small antimony addition and thermomechanical processing on the magnetic properties of a 3% Si steel was investigated. The samples were processed in the laboratory with 930 °C hot rolling finishing temperature, three different hot band thicknesses, hot band annealing at 1030 °C, cold rolling with three different reductions to 0.35 mm thickness and final annealing at 1030 °C. The results have shown that the best combination of core loss and magnetic induction can be obtained by Sb content of 0.045% and 76% cold rolling reduction, and that Eta/Gamma ratio is higher and grain size larger at this Sb content.

► The Sb addition on the magnetic properties of a 3% Si steel was investigated.
► The 0.045% Sb and cold rolling reduction of 76% results in the best magnetic properties.
► Sb and cold rolling reduction results in a optimum final grain size and texture.
► The work was performed in a 3% Si non-oriented electrical steel.