Effect of cerium content on the magnetic properties of non-oriented electrical steels

The effects of cerium content in the range of 0-0.022 wt%, on the microstructure, texture and magnetic properties of four non-oriented electrical steels have been studied. After final annealing, grain size increased with increasing cerium content and reached a maximum value in the steel with 0.011 wt% cerium. Furthermore, steel containing 0.003 wt% cerium had the strongest (110)(001) texture among the steels. In the steel with the same cerium content, the intensity of (111)< uvw > fiber texture decreased with decreasing hot finishing rolling temperature and increasing hot band annealing temperature. Under the same processing conditions, flux density slightly increased with increasing cerium and reached a maximum value in the steel with 0.003 wt% cerium. For steel with the same cerium content, flux density increased with increasing hot band annealing temperature and decreasing hot finishing rolling temperature. Conversely, core loss decreased with increasing cerium content and reached a minimum value in the steels containing 0.003wt% cerium. For steel with the same cerium content, core loss decreased with increasing hot band annealing temperature and decreasing hot finishing rolling temperature. Steel with 0.003 wt% cerium obtained the best magnetic properties, predominantly through the development of favorable texture and optimum grain size.