Doubly oriented magnetic steel sheet and method for manufacturing the

Abstract

(1) A doubly oriented silicon steel sheet having excellent magnetic characteristics in two directions, i.e. in a rolling direction and in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction, and most suited for use as material for cores of small-sized transformers, and (2) a method for manufacturing the same. The doubly oriented silicon steel sheet as mentioned above in (1) is characterized in that: Si and Mn are contained in amounts which satisfy a predetermined formula of relation; an average crystal grain is as large as 1 to 8 times the thickness of the sheet as measured on a cross section parallel to the surface of the sheet; and at least 60% of all crystal grains have a size of X/3 to 3X, where X is an average grain size. In the doubly oriented silicon steel sheet, preferably, crystal grains having a crystallographic orientation difference within .+-.15 degrees from a cubic orientation of {100}<001> occupy an areal percentage of not less than 70%, or the thickness of a surface oxide layer of the steel sheet is not greater than 0.5 .mu.m. The method for manufacturing a doubly oriented magnetic steel sheet as mentioned above in (2) includes the steps of hot-rolling and cold-rolling steel containing C in an amount of 0.02% to 0.2% and Si and M in amounts satisfying a predetermined formula of relation, wherein annealing is performed at a temperature not lower than 750.degree. C. and through quick application of heat during cold rolling; and the obtained steel sheet is annealed under reduced pressure through use of an annealing separator. In this method for manufacturing a doubly oriented magnetic steel sheet, preferably, a rolling reduction is 40% to 85% in cold rolling performed before and after intermediate annealing.