Additive Manufacturing Innovations: Microstructure Optimisation for Ultra-High Silicon Electrical Steel Components
Rasoul Karami  1, 2, 3, 4@  , David Butler  5, 6@  , Yashar Javadi  2, 7, 8@  , Saeed Tamimi  2, 3, 4, 9@  
1 : Rasoul Karami
2 : Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management
3 : Advanced Forming Research Centre
4 : National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
5 : David Butler
6 : School of Engineering, University of Birmingham
7 : Yashar Javadi
8 : Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering
9 : Saeed Tamimi

The main objective of this work is to fabricate high-silicon electrical steel with an optimised microstructure for magnetic applications through additive manufacturing (AM) routes. Traditional thermomechanical manufacturing routes, such as hot and cold rolling operations, have struggled to produce non-oriented electrical steel (NGOES) components with more than 3.4 wt.% Si contents. However, the need for efficiency improvements requires an increase in silicon contents up to 6.5 wt.%, leading to compromised mechanical properties through conventional manufacturing techniques resulting in technical limitations on the production of these alloys. AM is a promising manufacturing approach that can address this challenge through near-net-shape fabrication. Optimisation process conditions in AM provide flexibility and enable better, more precise control over the microstructure. This study explores the microstructure and texture development of FeSi 6.5wt% NGOES using the laser metal deposition (LMD) technique. The influence of process parameters on microstructure has been investigated. The optimisation of the manufacturing process involved precise adjustments to processing parameters, specifically modifying the melt pool's shape and size by altering laser power and scanning speed during the process. The resulting fabricated samples exhibit elongated grain structures characterised by a strong <001>//BD fibre texture. Moreover, increasing laser energy density from 60 to 69.75 J/mm² enhances cube texture, improving NGOES magnetic properties. Higher laser power (400 to 465W) increases grain sizes, favouring <001> texture, highlighting the importance role of both energy density and laser power in shaping microstructure and texture of NGOES.


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