Abnormal grain growth induced by grain boundary segregation of yttrium in grain-oriented Fe-3%Si steel

The possibility of abnormal grain growth in grain-oriented Fe-3%Si steel by grain boundary segregation was investigated. Yttrium was selected to inhibit normal grain growth because its segregation at grain boundaries would efficiently reduce the grain boundary energy of iron, decreasing the driving force for grain growth. After secondary recrystallization, abnormal grain growth was successfully achieved without any precipitates. Observations by the Laue diffraction method confirmed that the abnormally grown grains had the Goss orientation. •The abnormal grain growth in Fe-3%Si was induced without precipitates by alloying of yttrium.•Grains grew abnormally to sizes exceeding 10 mm after secondary recrystallization.•Observations by the Laue diffraction method confirmed that the abnormally grown grains had the Goss orientation.