Electrical Steel Strip Processing Method and Product Therefrom

Iron is by far the most extensively used ferromagnetic metal, finding applications in electric motors, transformers, and generators due to its high permeability and saturation induction. While pure iron is well suited in these electrical applications, limitations have been realized, leading to the addition of silicon to iron, making a soft ferromagnetic alloy and increasing electrical resistivity and magnetic permeability while decreasing coercivity of the material. This process is completed by processes, including elaborate hot rolling, cold rolling, and annealing treatments, which are not very effective.

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a method in which unconventionally thin, continuous, silicon iron strips are made in a single deformation step with and without preheating. Through sufficient control of the deformation parameters, these strips can be produced without the necessity of additional downstream thermal processing, unlike commercial rolling processes. In addition, this method includes an increase in the control over strip thickness, microstructure, and length in production.

Advantages:

-Applied to a full range of electrical steel compositions

-No limitations for scaling up to commercial-sized production rates

Potential Applications:

-Soft ferromagnetic alloy manufacturing

-Electric motors

-Transformers

-Generators

TRL: 3

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: ferromagnetic metal, silicon iron strips, soft ferromagnetic alloy, electrical resistivity, magnetic permeability, coercivity, electrical steel, single deformation step, thermal processing, electric motors, transformers, generators