Improvement of magnetic properties of an Fe-6.5 wt. % Si alloy by directional recrystallization

We report that magnetic properties of an Fe- 6.5 wt. % Si alloy can be improved through texture control by using directional recrystallization. Columnar grain structures with column sizes of ∼0.38×1.2 mm ² were developed during directional recrystallization. It was found that there are low energy boundaries between columns and main textures of the specimen were {110} 〈 111 〉 and {111} 〈 110 〉. As a result, the coercivity of a directionally recrystallized specimen is reduced by a factor of 5 when measured along 60° away from the growth direction, as compared to a specimen consisting of ∼77 μm equiaxed grains. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.