INFLUENCE OF ANTIMONY ON THE TEXTURE AND PROPERTIES OF 2-PERCENT SI, 0.3-PERCENT AL STEEL FOR NONORIENTED SHEET

The effect of additions of antimony (0.05% Sb) to silicon steel on the improvement of the electrical properties of non-oriented steel sheet was investigated. Measurements of surface segregation of Sb were perfo rmed under UHV conditions in the temperature range from 450 to 900 deg rees C, using AES and TDS. Maximum equilibrium surface segregation of antimony was determined at 700 degrees C. At higher temperatures, T> 8 00 degrees C, the desorption of antimony from the surface was measured . The grain boundary segregation was negligible and we can conclude th at the texture formation, rich in (100) grains, results from the effec t of the orientation dependent surface segregation of Sb. This segrega tion causes differences in surface energies and the stability of diffe rent grains. Controlled surface segregation promotes selective grain g rowth improving the electrical properties of non-oriented steel sheet.