Improving the magnetic properties of non-oriented electrical steel (NOES) through the optimization of crystallographic texture has been an on-going research activity for decades. However, using traditional rolling and annealing procedures, the obtained final textures were usually very similar, i.e., exhibiting the {111} (γ) and <110> (α) fibres, which were not the desired {001} texture (θ-fibre) for optimal magnetic quality. In the current work, a 1.8 wt% Si NOES was processed using a new sheet metal deformation method, i.e., repetitive bending under tension (R-BUT), also known as continuous bending under tension (C-BUT), to modify the texture of the electrical steel. The hot-rolled and annealed NOES plates were repeatedly bent and unbent when they were pulled under tension. The deformed plates were then heat treated at different temperatures for various times. Neutron diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) characterisation of the macro- and micro-textures proved that the R-BUT process significantly reduced the undesired {111} texture while promoting the {001} texture. The cube texture, which rarely formed after conventional rolling and annealing, was also seen in the R-BUT samples after annealing. It was shown that, the shear plastic deformation (induced by R-BUT) played a significant role in promoting the desired textures. In addition, the results indicated that the NOES processed by R-BUT could be deformed beyond its common formability limit, which may provide a method to address the poor workability challenge of high silicon electrical steels.

几十年来，通过优化结晶织构来提高无取向电工钢 (NOES) 的磁性能一直是一项持续的研究活动。然而，使用传统的轧制和退火程序，获得的最终织构通常非常相似，即呈现出 {111} (γ) 和 <110> (α) 纤维，这不是所需的 {001} 织构（θ-纤维) 以获得最佳的磁质量。在目前的工作中，使用一种新的钣金变形方法，即在张力下重复弯曲（R-BUT），也称为在张力下连续弯曲，加工了 1.8 wt% Si NOES(C-BUT)，修改电工钢的纹理。热轧和退火的 NOES 板在拉力下反复弯曲和未弯曲。然后将变形的板在不同温度下热处理不同时间。宏观和微观织构的中子衍射和电子背散射衍射 (EBSD) 表征证明，R-BUT 工艺显着减少了不希望的 {111} 织构，同时促进了 {001} 织构。在常规轧制和退火后很少形成的立方体织构也出现在退火后的 R-BUT 样品中。结果表明，剪切塑性变形（由 R-BUT 引起）在促进所需纹理方面发挥了重要作用。此外，