Variables Affecting the Evolution of the {100} <0vw>Texture Induced by Surface Nucleation During ? ? a Phase Transformation in Fe-Si Electrical Steel

Previously, it was shown that the {100} texture could be evolved when the specimen is under the appropriate stress during gamma -> alpha phase transformation. Here the effect of the various process conditions on the evolution of the {100} texture was examined. The texture evolution was affected by the magnitude of tensile stress, the furnace atmosphere, the heat treatment time (or grain size) and the cooling rate. In Fe-1 wt% Si, the {100} texture was 78.3% under the H-2 atmosphere with a flow rate of 1000 standard cubic centimeter per minute (sccm) whereas it was 16.2% under the N-2 atmosphere with a flow rate of 1000 sccm. The marked decrease in the percentage of the {100} texture under the N-2 atmosphere is believed to be related with the surface oxidation of the specimen. In Fe-2 wt% Si-1 wt% Ni, the {100}< 0vw > texture was 8.9% when the specimen was heat treated at 1100 & DEG;C for 5 min whereas it increased to 66.0% when the specimen was heat treated for 6 h. This increase of the {100} texture is believed to be related with the increase in the grain size. Under the optimum processing condition, the {100} texture could be increased to as high as 92.6% in Fe-2 wt% Si-1 wt% Ni.