The fabrication process of nonoriented electrical steels comprises: casting, hot rolling, cold rolling and final annealing. The developments of new technologies for fabrication hot band offers new possibilities. In this paper we will shortly describe the similarities and differences with respect to the evolution of microstructure (grain structure) and texture along the conventional processing route and thin strip casting. We will point out the most relevant features at the different processing steps, which are important for optimum texture and microstructure of the finally processed material. Thereby we will regard ferritic FeSi steels, where no homogenization of the microstructure appears due to the austenite -ferrite phase transformation.

The texture development and c-fibre recrystallisation texture formation mechanism of ferritic stainless steels under different rolling processes were investigated. It was shown that the surface texture development was absolutely different from the centre texture development. In conventional rolled band, strong a-fibre was formed at the centre layer and it was weakened after hot band annealing; after cold rolling, the centre texture was characterised by sharp a-fibre and weak c-fibre with a peak at {111},110., and non-uniform c-fibre recrystallisation texture was developed. By contrast, in warm rolled band, the centre texture consisted of weakened a-fibre and sharpened c-fibre, and {111},112. became the prominent component after hot band annealing. The a-fibre and c-fibre with a peak at {111},112. were intensified at the centre texture after cold rolling, resulting in the formation of uniform c-fibre recrystallisation texture. It was indicated that the formation mechanism of c-fibre recrystallisation texture was closely dependent on hot rolling process.