Abstract: For grain⁃oriented silicon steel, sufficient secondary recrystallization during high⁃temperature annealing is the key to ensuring good magnetic properties. The initial microstructure before high⁃temperature annealing has a significant impact on whether secondary recrystallization can proceed properly, so the initial microstructure before high⁃temperature annealing needs to be strictly controlled. To investigate the effect of pre⁃annealing on the initial microstructure before high⁃temperature annealing, and the impact of different initial microstructures on secondary recrystallization and magnetic properties, pre⁃annealing treatment and interrupted high⁃temperature annealing sampling experiments were conducted on grain⁃oriented silicon steel. The results showed that: the microstructure after 550 ℃ pre⁃annealing remained in the rolled state, with no primary recrystallization occurring; the initial microstructure before high⁃temperature annealing had a high intensity of γ texture {111}<112>, and during high⁃temperature annealing, Goss grains grew fully, resulting in a final product with high magnetic induction and low iron loss. After 640 ℃ pre⁃annealing, part of the primary recrystallization occurred in the microstructure. After 700 ℃ pre⁃annealing, the microstructure was fully recrystallized, with a stronger α texture {112}<110> and {110}<112> (brass texture) that hindered the growth of Goss grains during secondary recrystallization, leading to poor magnetic induction and higher iron loss in the final product. Therefore, grain⁃oriented silicon steel should be pre⁃annealed at temperatures below 550 ℃ before high⁃temperature annealing to retain more of the rolled microstructure, increase the proportion and intensity of favorable Goss texture, thereby promoting the growth of secondary recrystallized grains and improving magnetic properties.

Key words: grain?oriented silicon steel, initial organization, texture strength, secondary recrystallization, magnetic properties