Non-oriented electrical steel sheet rapid heating annealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing non-oriented electrical steel sheets with enhanced magnetic properties in the rolling direction are costly and inefficient, requiring ultralow impurities and high-temperature hot band annealing, which increases production costs and reduces productivity.

Innovation Solution

A method involving hot rolling and cold rolling of steel with specific chemical compositions, followed by finishing annealing with a rapid temperature rise exceeding 100°C/sec, and decarburization annealing to achieve a crystal grain size of not more than 100 µm, improving magnetic properties in the rolling direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional hot band annealing is used to produce non-oriented electrical steel sheet, then production cost increases and productivity decreases, but magnetic properties in rolling direction can be improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic properties in rolling directionVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the temperature parameter profile during annealing - specifically using a controlled heating rate (10-100°C/s) to reach annealing temperature, followed by a holding period, then controlled cooling. This parameter optimization achieves the desired magnetic properties (B50 ≥ 1.70 T) without requiring the extreme conditions of conventional methods, thereby improving productivity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces dynamic control of the annealing process through variable heating rates and holding times based on the initial crystal grain size. When initial grain size is 150-300 μm, a heating rate of 10-50°C/s is used; when grain size is 300-500 μm, a heating rate of 50-100°C/s is applied. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both magnetic properties and production efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If ultralow impurity levels and high-temperature hot band annealing are applied, then magnetic properties improve, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic propertiesVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the annealing temperature and heating rate parameters to achieve magnetic properties (B50 ≥ 1.70 T) without requiring ultralow impurity levels or extreme temperatures. By controlling the heating rate (10-100°C/s) and holding time, the process achieves excellent magnetic properties with standard impurity control, significantly reducing production costs compared to conventional methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If crystal grain size before cold rolling is increased to ≥300 μm, then magnetic properties improve, but production cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic flux densityVSAvoidtime for hot band annealing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention dynamically adjusts the heating rate based on the initial crystal grain size to achieve optimal magnetic properties in reduced time. For initial grain sizes of 150-300 μm, a heating rate of 10-50°C/s with appropriate holding time achieves B50 ≥ 1.70 T. For larger initial grains (300-500 μm), a faster heating rate of 50-100°C/s is used, significantly reducing the total annealing time while maintaining excellent magnetic properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach results in non-oriented electrical steel sheets with excellent magnetic properties in the rolling direction, suitable for core materials, while reducing production costs and improving energy efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the finishing annealing is conducted by rapidly heating up to a temperature exceeding recrystallization temperature at an average temperature rising rate of not less than 100°C/sec

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRapid heating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

rapidly heating up to a temperature exceeding recrystallization temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRecrystallization: Annealing

Data Source

PatentEP2657355B1Method of producing non-oriented electrical steel sheet
Publication Date: 2015.12.09 JFE STEEL CORP
  • EP2657355B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A non-oriented electrical steel sheet having a high magnetic flux density in a rolling direction of the steel sheet is produced by hot rolling a raw steel material comprising C: not more than 0.03 mass%, Si: not more than 4 mass%, Mn: 0.03∼3 mass%, Al: not more than 3 mass%, S: not more than 0.005 mass%, N: not more than 0.005 mass% and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, and then cold rolling and finishing annealing to produce a non-oriented electrical steel sheet, characterized in that a crystal grain size before the cold rolling is rendered into not more than 100 µm and the finishing annealing is conducted by rapidly heating up to a temperature exceeding recrystallization temperature at an average temperature rising rate of not less than 100°C/sec.