Effect of Y on Recrystallization Behavior in Non-Oriented 4.5 wt% Si Steel Sheets

4.5 wt% Si steel sheets with four different yttrium (Y) contents (0, 0.006, 0.012 and 0.016 wt%) were fabricated by hot rolling, normalizing, warm rolling and a final annealing process. Y addition greatly weakened the γ -fiber (⟨111⟩//ND) texture and enhanced the {001} ⟨130⟩ and {114} ⟨481⟩ texture components, and the magnetic properties were improved related to the effects of Y on the recrystallized grain nucleation. Y segregation at the grain boundaries inhibited the nucleation of {111} oriented grains at grain boundaries, which was beneficial to the nucleation and growth of other oriented grains elsewhere. At the same rolling reduction, Y₂O₂S inclusion caused more stress concentration than Al₂O₃ inclusion. Y₂O₂S in deformed grains with low energy storage provided more preferential nucleation sites for {001} ⟨130⟩ and {114} ⟨481⟩ grains. Strong {001} ⟨130⟩ and {114} ⟨481⟩ recrystallization textures due to the high mobility were obtained in samples containing 0.012 wt% Y.