Effects of grain boundary on {100} recrystallization texture of high silicon electrical steel

In this study, high silicon electrical steel (Fe-6.5 wt% Si alloy) as-cast ingot with columnar grains was prepared by directional solidification. Additionally, equiaxed-grained samples with different initial grain sizes were fabricated by casting, rolling and annealing at different temperatures. The deformation band, dislocation morphology and recrystallization texture of these samples during subsequent rolling and annealing were investigated. The effects of initial grain boundary directions of columnar-grained samples and initial grain sizes (grain boundary densities) of equiaxed-grained samples on the {100} recrystallization texture of high silicon electrical steel were analyzed. The results showed that the grain boundaries played an important role in the formation of the {100} recrystallization texture. Due to a low dislocation density (low deformation stored energy) after rolling, the samples without grain boundaries parallel to transverse direction (e.g. rolling along the axis of the columnar grains) or with small grain boundary densities (e.g. large initial grain sizes) were favorable to the formation of a {100} recrystallization texture during annealing.