Effect of Electric Current on Microstructural Evolution in a Cold-Rolled 3% Si Steel

Abstract

The effect of electric current pulse (ECP) treatment on grain orientation in a cold-rolled Fe–3%Si steel was investigated in this study. Results showed that the recrystallized nuclei preferred to form along the current direction in the primary period of recrystallization. The theoretical analysis revealed that the anisotropic nucleation orientation was ascribed to the different dislocation mobility derived from the electron wind force during the passing of electric current. Hence, the ECP treatment should be a special and effective method to control the nucleation orientation, and the present work is of great technological and physical importance.