As there are a large number of process variables involved in manufacturing grain oriented electrical steel, partial least squares (PLS) was used to study the influence of these process parameters on some magnetic properties and in particular on permeability. It was found that a model containing just two PLS components provided an adequate best fit to the process data with the most important variables being some of the alloying elements contained within the delivery of steel from the IJmuiden plant and the chemistry changes at the decarburisation line. Also of importance was the temperature in the early zones in the decarburising furnace and the latter zones in the annealing pickling line furnace.

 

M. Evans^a, J. McMahon^a & F. Robinson^b
a College of Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
^b Cogent Power Ltd, PO Box 30, Orb Works, Stephenson St., Newport, NP19 0RB, UK

Materials Science and Technology, 2015, Vol. 31(3), Pages 361 – 371. doi: 10.1179/1743284714Y.0000000557