Microstructure evolution in a GOES thin strip

Abstract

This paper focuses on the evolution of the microstructure in a grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) thin strip after casting. After solidification, the microstructure consisted of delta-ferrite. A small fraction of austenite was formed during the cooling of the thin strip in the two-phase region (gamma+delta). Fine Cr2CuS4 particles precipitated in the ferrite and along the delta/gamma interfaces. Laths of primary Widmanstätten austenite (WA) nucleated directly on the high-angle delta-ferrite grain boundaries. The formation of WA laths in both adjacent ferritic grains resulted in a zig-zag shape of delta-ferrite grain boundaries due to their local rotation during austenite nucleation. Based on the EBSD results, a mechanism of the formation of the zig-zag grain boundaries has been proposed. Besides the Widmanstätten morphology, austenite also formed as films along the delta ferrite grain boundaries. Sulfide precipitation along the delta/gamma interfaces made it possible to prove that austenite decomposition upon a drop in temperature was initiated by the formation of epitaxial ferrite. Further cooling brought the decay of austenite to either pearlite or a mixture of plate martensite and some retained austenite.