Crystallographic texture evolution during processing of hot dipped and diffusion annealed high silicon electrical steel

The texture of high Si and Al electrical steel produced by hot dipping and diffusion annealing can be significantly modified by the thermomechanical processing. The diffusion of Si and Al from the coating affects the final texture depending on the Si content of the substrate. In low Si substrates a phase transformation gamma-alpha is possible and two different textures are observed. Crystallographic texture is an important characteristic of electrical steel. For the production route described here, a modification of the thermomechanical processing has an important influence on texture development. Further investigation shows how far can be gone in order to reduce the magnetic losses through an advanced texture control.