Effect of hot band grain size on development of textures and magnetic properties in 2.0% Si non-oriented electrical steel sheet

The effect of hot band grain size on the development of crystallographic texture and magnetic properties in non-oriented electrical steel sheet was studied. After cold rolling the samples with different initial grain sizes displayed different microstructures and micro-textures but nearly identical macro-textures. The homogeneous recrystallized microstructure and micro-texture in the sample having small grains caused normal continuous grain growth. The quite irregular microstructure and micro-texture in the recrystallized sample with large initial grain size provided a preferential growth of grains in 〈001〉//ND and 〈113〉//ND which were beneficial for developing superior magnetic properties. •We produced hot bands of electrical steel with different grain size but same texture.•Hot band grain size strongly affected cold rolling and subsequent annealing textures.•Homogeneous recrystallized microstructure caused normal continuous grain growth.•Irregular recrystallized microstructure led to selective growth of //ND grains.•Hot band with large grains was beneficial for superior magnetic properties.