Original Article

Evolution of microstructure and texture in strip-cast non-oriented electrical steel

¹ Institute of Research of Iron & Steel, Shagang, Zhangjiagang, 215625, PR China
² School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100081, PR China
³ Zhangjiagang Zhongmei UCS Technology Co., Ltd., Zhangjiagang, 215625, PR China

^* e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Received: 7 October 2025
Accepted: 21 December 2025

Abstract

The λ-fiber (<100>//ND) texture is the favorable texture in non-oriented electrical steels (NOES). However, conventional processes are difficult to produce NOES with a sharp λ-fiber texture. In this study, 3.1% Si NOES with a sharp λ-fiber was produced using top-side pouring twin-roll casting (TSTRC), followed by cold rolling and annealing. The microstructure and texture were characterized using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The TSTRC process produced a thin as-cast strip with a near-net shape comparable to that of a traditional hot-rolled plate and a near-normalization microstructure consisting of equiaxed grains. The effects of cold rolling reduction rate on microstructure, texture evolution, and magnetic properties of strip-cast NOES were investigated. The texture transformation path of the as-cast strip during cold rolling can be summarized as follows: 1) near Cube →{100}<011>, and 2) near Cube →{112}<110>→{112}<571>→{111}<110>. The nucleation sites of near Cube grain include shear bands in {112}<110> deformed grains, and grain boundaries between {112}<110> and {100}<011> deformed grains. P_15/50 of the strip-cast NOES samples with thicknesses of 0.20 mm, 0.35 mm, and 0.50 mm are 3.53 W/kg, 3.32 W/kg and 3.97 W/kg, respectively, and the B₅₀ values were 1.76 T, 1.77 T and 1.82 T, respectively.