Oriented silicon steel, also known as electrical steel or transformer steel, is a special type of steel that is designed to exhibit low core loss and high magnetic permeability, making it ideal for electrical applications. It is produced by carefully controlling the grain structure of the steel during the manufacturing process, aligning the crystal grains in a specific direction to optimize its magnetic properties.
It is a kind of ferrosilicon soft magnetic alloy with very low carbon content, generally containing silicon content of 0.5 ~ 4.5%. The addition of silicon increases the resistivity and maximum permeability of iron and reduces the coercivity, core loss (iron loss), and magnetic aging.
The development of oriented silicon steel can be traced back to the early 20th century when engineers and scientists recognized the need for materials with improved magnetic properties for electrical devices. The first commercial production of oriented silicon steel began in the 1920s, and since then, it has undergone continuous refinement and improvement.
The manufacturing process of oriented silicon steel involves several critical steps to achieve the desired grain structure and magnetic properties.
Steel Melting: The process begins with the melting of high-quality iron ore, along with controlled amounts of other elements, such as silicon and aluminum, in an electric arc furnace. This ensures the production of high-purity steel suitable for electrical applications.
Casting: The molten steel is cast into thin slabs using continuous casting techniques. This process helps maintain a uniform grain structure and minimizes the presence of impurities.
Hot Rolling: The slabs are heated and passed through a series of hot rolling mills, where they are gradually reduced in thickness to the desired dimensions. This hot rolling process helps align the crystal grains in the rolling direction.
Cold Rolling and Annealing: The hot-rolled steel is then cold rolled to reduce its thickness further and improve its magnetic properties. Subsequently, the material undergoes annealing, a heat treatment process that relieves internal stresses and further refines the grain structure.
Insulating Coating: In the final step, the oriented silicon steel is coated with an insulating layer to prevent the occurrence of short circuits between adjacent laminations.
Cold Rolled Grain Oriented Electrical Silicon Steel
.png)
