British Steel Plc.

David Snell

Philip Beckley

A method of forming continuous or spot-sequenced lines across the surface of grain oriented steel strip by spark discharge from electrodes closely spaced from said strip, characterized in that the atmosphere through which the discharge is effected is inert. Preferably the inert atmosphere is nitrogen but other gases, e.g. argon may readily be employed.

Processing grain-oriented 'electrical' steel

This invention relates to a method of enhancing linear impressions formed in the surface of grain oriented electrical steel strip, by electrolytically etching said impressions with e.g. citric acid. The impressions may be formed by mechanical wheel scribing or by surface ablation, e.g. by spark discharge or laser treatment, and may be continuous or discontinuous in the form of spots or lines. In accordance with this invention therefore, the initial generation of light impressions in steel strip formed by mechanical wheel scribing or spark ablation techniques can readily be enhanced by application of the electrolytic etching technique to produce a material exhibiting values of power loss (reduced from the original unscribed loss value) which are substantially anneal-proof. In comparison, conventionally scribed material shows no resistance to a high temperature anneal as far as loss reduction is concerned.

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Six Bells, United Kingdom

David Snell