Pancake-shaped growth of abnormally-growing Goss grains in Fe–3%Si steel approached by solid-state wetting

During secondary recrystallization of Fe–3%Si steel, Goss grains near the surface grow faster in the direction parallel to the surface than in the direction vertical to the surface, resulting in a pancake-shaped growth. The growth advantage in the direction parallel to the surface was investigated. The surface had a higher percentage of low energy boundaries with respect to the Goss grains such as low angle and coincidence site lattice boundaries than the center, which would provide the growth advantage of Goss grains along the surface from the viewpoint of solid-state wetting. This difference between the surface and the center was induced by texture inhomogeneity through the thickness formed after primary recrystallization which is inherited from the texture after hot rolling.