Abstract: A high permeability grain oriented electrical steel having a chemistry comprising, all in weight percent, 2.5% to 4.5% silicon, 0.02% to 0.08% carbon, 0.01 to 0.05% aluminum, 0.005% to 0.050% sulfur or selenium, 0.02 to 0.20% manganese, 0.05 to 0.20% tin, 0.05 to 1% copper, 0.5% to 2.0% chromium, up to 0.10% phosphorus and up to 0.20% antimony with the balance being essentially iron and residual elements. The steel contains chromium and phosphorus in such amounts that a Cr:(P+0.25Sb) ratio is below 80:1 or, below 50:1, or below 30:1 which provides highly stable magnetic properties in the finished steel sheet. A hot processed band comprised of such steel is annealed and rapidly cooled after such annealing at a rate of at least 50° C. per second from 875-950° C. to a temperature below 400° C. prior to cold rolling to final thickness. Such steel forming a hot processed band having a thickness of from 1.5 to 4.0 mm and having a volume resistivity of at least 50 ??-cm, an austenite volume fraction (?1150° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a high permeability grain oriented electrical steel having excellent mechanical and magnetic properties. A hot band having a thickness of about 1.5 to about 4.0 mm has a chemistry comprising about 2.5 to about 4.5% silicon, about 0.1 to about 1.2% chromium, about 0.02 to about 0.08% carbon, about 0.01 to about 0.05% aluminum, up to about 0.1% sulfur, up to about 0.14% selenium, about 0.03 to about 0.15% manganese, up to about 0.2% tin, up to about 1% copper, and balance being essentially iron and residual elements, all percentages by weight. The band has a volume resistivity of at least about 45 ??-cm, an austenite volume fraction (?1150° C.) of at least 20% and the strip has an isomorphic layer thickness of at least about 2% of the total thickness on at least one surface of the hot processed band. The band is rapidly cooled after the anneal prior to cold rolling at a rate of at least 30° C./second from 875-950° C. to a temperature below 400° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a non-oriented electrical steel with improved magnetic properties and improved resistance to ridging, brittleness, nozzle clogging and magnetic aging. The chromium bearing steel is produced from a steel melt which is cast as a thin slab or conventional slab, cooled, hot rolled and/or cold rolled into a finished strip. The finished strip is further subjected to at least one annealing treatment wherein the magnetic properties are developed, making the steel sheet of the present invention suitable for use in electrical machinery such as motors or transformers.

Abstract: Non-oriented electrical steels are widely used as the magnetic core material in a variety of electrical machinery and devices, particularly in motors where low core loss and high magnetic permeability in all directions of the strip are desired. A method for producing a non-oriented electrical steel with low core loss and high magnetic permeability provides a steel that is produced from a steel melt which is cast as a thin strip or sheet, cooled, hot rolled and/or cold rolled into a finished strip. The finished strip is further subjected to at least one annealing treatment wherein the magnetic properties are developed, making the steel strip suitable for use in electrical machinery such as motors or transformers.

Abstract: Non-oriented electrical steels are widely used as the magnetic core material in a variety of electrical machinery and devices, particularly in motors where low core loss and high magnetic permeability in all directions of the strip are desired. A method for producing a non-oriented electrical steel with low core loss and high magnetic permeability provides a steel that is produced from a steel melt which is cast as a thin strip or sheet, cooled, hot rolled and/or cold rolled into a finished strip. The finished strip is further subjected to at least one annealing treatment wherein the magnetic properties are developed, making the steel strip suitable for use in electrical machinery such as motors or transformers.

Abstract: In a method of producing a strip suitable for further processing to yield a (110)[001] grain oriented electrical steel from a thin strip such as a continuously cast thin strip the thin cast strip is processed to promote recrystallization from the surface layer of the strip (S=0) into the quarter thickness of the strip (S=0.2 to 0.3). The process parameters are selected so that the strain/recrystallization parameter (K*)−1, ≧about 6500 and wherein, ( K * ) - 1 = ( T HBA ) ⁢ ln ⁡ [ e . 0.

Abstract: A method for continuously casting grain oriented electrical steel is disclosed. This method utilizes a controlled rapid cooling step, such as one using a water spray, to control the grain orientation in the finished product. The product formed not only has the appropriate grain orientation but also has good physical properties, for example, minimized cracking. In this process, after a continuously cast electrical steel strip is formed, the strip undergoes an initial secondary cooling to from about 1150 to about 1250° C., and finally undergoes a rapid secondary cooling (for example, by water spray) at a rate of from about 65° C./second to about 150° C./second to a temperature of no greater than about 950° C.

Abstract: Non-oriented electrical steels are widely used as the magnetic core material in a variety of electrical machinery and devices, particularly in motors where low core loss and high magnetic permeability in all directions of the strip are desired. The present invention relates to a method for producing a non-oriented electrical steel with low core loss and high magnetic permeability whereby the steel is produced from a steel melt which is cast as a thin strip or sheet, cooled, hot rolled and/or cold rolled into a finished strip. The finished strip is further subjected to at least one annealing treatment wherein the magnetic properties are developed, making the steel strip of the present invention suitable for use in electrical machinery such as motors or transformers.

Abstract: In a method of producing a strip suitable for further processing to yield a (110)[001] grain oriented electrical steel from a thin strip such as a continuously cast thin strip the thin cast strip is processed to promote recrystallization from the surface layer of the strip (S=0) into the quarter thickness of the strip (S=0.2 to 0.3).

Abstract: A method for continuously casting grain oriented electrical steel is disclosed. This method utilizes a controlled rapid cooling step, such as one using a water spray, to control the grain orientation in the finished product. The product formed not only has the appropriate grain orientation but also has good physical properties, for example, minimized cracking. In this process, after a continuously cast electrical steel strip is formed, the strip undergoes an initial secondary cooling to from about 1150 to about 1250° C., and finally undergoes a rapid secondary cooling (for example, by water spray) at a rate of from about 65° C./second to about 150° C./second to a temperature of no greater than about 950° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing grain oriented electrical steel having excellent mechanical and magnetic properties. A hot processed strip having a thickness of 1.5-4.0 mm thickness a composition consisting essentially of 2.5-4.5% silicon, 0.1-1.2% chromium, less than 0.050% carbon, less than 0.005% aluminum, up to 0.1% sulfur, up to 0.14% selenium, 0.01-1% manganese and balance being essentially iron and residual elements, all percentages by weight. The strip has a volume resistivity of at least 45 .mu..OMEGA.-cm, at least 0.010% carbon so that an austenite volume fraction (.gamma..sub.1150.degree. C.) of at least 2.5% is present in the hot processed strip and each surface of the strip has an isomorphic layer having a thickness of at least 10% of the total thickness of the hot processed strip. The strip is cold reduced to an intermediate thickness, annealed, cold reduced to a final thickness and decarburized to less than 0.003% carbon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steel composition and method for producing a high quality regular grain oriented electrical steel having less than 0.005% aluminum using a single cold reduction step. A high austenite volume fraction, the use of an annealing separator coating with high sulfur or a sulfur bearing atmosphere to provide strong surface energy grain growth, a quench after initial annealing to provide the optimum microstructure having a small amount of martensite with a fine carbide dispersion and various chemistry changes are included in the method. Excess manganese in combination with tin, which has been found to act similarly to excess Mn, are maintained at a total level less than 0.03%. The use of chromium in an amount ranging from 0.11% to 1.2% provides outstanding control of stability for secondary grain growth.

Abstract: The present invention produces a regular grain oriented electrical steel using a single cold reduction step having excellent and highly uniform magnetic quality. The method includes the steps of providing an electrical steel band having Mn of 0.024% or less in excess of that needed to combine with S and/or Se. The band is provided with an anneal at a temperature of from 900.degree.-1125.degree. C. (1650.degree.-2050.degree. F.) for a time up to 10 minutes and slowly cooled to 480.degree.-650.degree. C. (900.degree.-1200.degree. F.) followed by rapid cooling to a temperature below 100.degree. C. (212.degree. F.). The annealed band must have a critical amount of austenite, .gamma..sub.1150.degree. C., of 7% or more. The annealed band is cold reduced in a single stage to the desired final thickness. The strip is decarburized and provided with an annealing separator coating on one or more surfaces of the strip.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed therefrom. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one of a plurality of adjacent sheets and a wax is applied along the longitudinal edges of a facing surface of at least one of the sheets. The sheets are combined into a laminate by being passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil from between the facing surfaces and to spread the wax thereby forming a continuous seal along the longitudinal edges of the laminate. Air between the facing surfaces is displaced by the oil and the wax forms the seal to prevent reentry of the air and seepage of the oil along the longitudinal edges of the laminate. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.

Abstract: The thermal flattening of grain oriented silicon steel which is in the semi-processed condition has improved magnetic properties after a stress relief anneal by using a low temperature and high tension flattening anneal. The flattening process is conducted at a temperature between 1000.degree. to 1435.degree. F. (540.degree. to 780.degree. C.) with a tension selected to produce a yield strength/tension ratio from above 5 to about 20 and preferably from 7 to 13. The yield strength of the material will vary depending on the length of the time at peak temperature but are typically from 400 to 4000 psi (29,200 to 292,000 gm/cm.sup.2). The material as thermally flattened will have at least about 10% stress. After a stress relief anneal above about 1450.degree. F. (785.degree. C.), the material has significantly improved core loss compared to conventional thermally flattened material. The material is particularly suited for wound transformer core applications.

Abstract: A process of producing regular grain oriented silicon steel having a final thickness of from 7 mils (0.18 mm) to about 18 mils (0.45 mm) including the steps of providing a silicon steel hot band, removing hot band scale, cold rolling to intermediate gauge without an anneal of the hot band, performing an intermediate anneal at a soak temperature of about 1650.degree. F. (900.degree. C.) to about 1700.degree. F. (9300.degree. C.), subjecting said annealed silicon steel to a first stage slow cooling at a rate of about 500.degree. F. (260.degree. C.) to about 1050.degree. F. (585.degree. C.) per minute down to about 1100.degree. F..+-.50.degree. F. (595.degree. C..+-.30.degree. C.), thereafter subjecting said silicon steel to a second stage fast cooling down to from about 600.degree.F. (315.degree. C.) to about 1000.degree. F. (540.degree. C.) at a cooling rate of from about 25.degree. F. (1390.degree. C.) to about 3500.degree. F. (1945.degree. C.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed therefrom. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one of a plurality of adjacent sheets and a wax is applied along the longitudinal edges of a facing surface of at least one of the sheets. The sheets are combined into a laminate by being passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil from between the facing surfaces and to spread the wax thereby forming a continuous seal along the longitudinal edges of the laminate. Air between the facing surfaces is displaced by the oil and the wax forms the seal to prevent reentry of the air and seepage of the oil along the longitudinal edges of the laminate. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed thereof. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one a plurality of adjacent laminations. The laminations are passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil between the facing surfaces. The air between the facing surfaces is displaced and the remaining oil forms a seal to prevent reentry of the air. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.

Abstract: Ultra-rapid annealing of nonoriented electrical steel is conducted at a rate above 100.degree. C. per second on prior to or as part of the strip decarburization and/or annealing process to provide an improved texture and, thereby, improved permeability and reduced core loss. During the ultra-rapid heating of cold-rolled strip, the recrystallization texture is enhanced by more preferential nucleation of {100}<uvw> and {110}<uvw> oriented crystals and reduced formation of {111}<uvw> oriented crystals. The preferred practice has a heating rate above 262.degree. C. per second to a peak temperature between 750.degree. C. and 1150.degree. C. and held at temperature for 0 to 5 minutes.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed thereof. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one of a plurality of adjacent laminations. The laminations are passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil between the facing surfaces. The air between the facing surfaces is displaced and the remaining oil forms a seal to prevent reentry of the air. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.