Effects of laser irradiation on iron loss reduction for Fe-3%Si grain-oriented silicon steel

The effects of laser irradiation on iron loss reduction for Fe-3%Si grain-oriented silicon steel sheet were investigated. The local tensile residual stress states near the laser irradiated cavity lines were observed by using the new X-ray stress measurement method for a single crystal. Although the higher laser power induced the larger tensile residual stresses, the minimum iron loss was obtained at the medium tensile residual stress conditions of about 100-200 MPa. The increase of Vickers hardness was observed with increasing laser power, which was the mark of the plastic deformations induced by the laser irradiation. The tensile residual stress reduces eddy current loss and the plastic deformation increases hysteresis loss of the material. The total iron loss is determined by the balance of these two effects of laser irradiation. (C) 2004 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.