Effect of aluminum and titanium content on grain growth, texture and magnetic properties in 3%Si non-oriented electrical steel

The effect of annealing temperature on grain growth, texture development and magnetic properties of Al-free and Al-1% added non-oriented electrical steel were investigated. Nor-Mal grain growth occurred in Al-free steel. On the other hand, abnormal grain growth occurred in Al-added steel which was annealed at 800 degrees C for 24h. Precipitates in these two steels were different. TiN precipitated in Al-free steel, but in the case of Al-added steel, AlN and TiC precipitated. The TiC in Al-added steel was so fine that it inhibited the normal grain growth and finally caused the abnormal grain growth. Main textures of both steels were near {111}< 112 >, but the intensity of near {111}< 112 > in the abnormal grain growth was higher than that in the normal grain growth. Magnetic flux density (B50/Bs) was decreased by the grain growth. Especially B50/Bs in the abnormal grain growth was lower than that in normal grain growth. B50/13s in these steels can be estimated by their three-dimensional textures in vector method.