Effect of aluminum on secondary recrystallization texture and magnetic properties of grain-oriented silicon steel

The slab low-temperature reheating grain-oriented silicon steel was prepared in the laboratory, and the high-temperature annealing interruption tests were carried out. The effects of aluminum (which meant acid-soluble aluminum) on the grain size texture, precipitate, magnetic properties and their correlations were studied. The results showed that with the increase in aluminum element, the grain size decreased, while the intensity of {114}<481> and {111}<112> textures increased in the primary recrystallization structure. Meanwhile, the pinning force during the secondary recrystallization and the onset secondary recrystallization temperature were increased. The precipitates were concluded to have a more important role on determining the onset secondary recrystallization temperature than the primary grain size. The higher onset temperature resulted in sharper Goss texture and the better magnetic properties, but when the aluminum content came up to a certain extent, a fine-grain structure was developed. The most suitable aluminum content for present study was 0.025 wt.%, while the onset secondary recrystallization temperature and the primary texture were considered to be conducive to the sharpness of Goss texture.