Abstract: Microstructure and texture evolution of Cu-containing low temperature oriented silicon steel during hot rolling, first cold rolling, decarbonization annealing and second cold rolling were studied by Zeiss optical microscope and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the microstructure and texture of the hot rolled specimen show obvious inhomogeneity in thickness direction. The surface and transition layers of the specimens is recrystallized, the transition layer has strong Goss texture, and the central layer has strong α texture dominated by {001}<110>. After first cold rolling, the microstructure of the specimen is compressed into a fibrous structure distributed along the rolling direction, and the texture is mainly strong α texture and weak γ texture. The recrystallization occurs after decarbonization annealing, the average grain size is 15.69 μm, and the overall texture intensity decreases, but the Goss texture intensity increases. After second cold rolling, the microstructure changes from equiaxed grain to spindle structure, and the texture is mainly weak α and strong γ texture, of which {111}<112> has the highest intensity.

Key words: Cu-containing low temperature oriented silicon steel, rolling, microstructure, texture