Effect of wheel speed on the microstructure and magnetic properties of Fe-3.0 wt %Si non-oriented silicon steel ultra-thin ribbons prepared by planar flow casting

Using the planar flow casting method to prepare ultra-thin silicon steel ribbons is an eco-friendly and efficient production method. However, the poor wettability between silicon steel and copper result in difficulties in formability by planar flow casting which limits its application in production of silicon steel ultra-thin ribbons. The process parameters of planar flow casting are the key factors affecting the formability and magnetic properties of non-oriented silicon steel ribbons, in which the wheel speed determines the solidification rate of the silicon steel melt, which has an important influence on the surface quality and magnetic properties of silicon steel ultra-thin ribbons. Therefore, in this paper, the effect of wheel speed on microstructures and magnetic properties of Fe-3.0 wt %Si alloy are systematically investigated. The results indicate that as the wheel speed increases, the grain size and thickness gradually decrease. When the wheel speed is between 10 and 15 m/s, the surface of the ribbons is relatively flat. As the wheel speed increases, the surface quality of ribbons gradually deteriorates. The ribbons were in fragment with the wheel speed of 35 m/s. Compared with the ribbons before annealing, the magnetic induction B50 increased significantly and the iron losses P1.0/400 decreased sharply at 400 Hz after annealing. The magnetic induction of the ribbons after annealing with the wheel speed of 10 m/s reaches to 1.628 T as the wheel speed is 10 m/s with the corresponding iron loss is 16.171 W/kg. The lower lamination factor and micropores of the ribbons may cause the poorer magnetic properties.