Silicon Steel

 

 

Silicon steel is mainly used in the electric power and electronics industry to manufacture electric motors, transformers, generators and other electrical equipment. Its main features are low magnetic permeability and low eddy current loss, which can reduce the energy loss under the alternating magnetic field and improve the energy efficiency of the equipment.

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Silicon steel coil

 

What is Silicon Steel

Silicon Steel also known as Electrical steel, is speciality steel used in the cores of electromagnetic devices such as motors, generators, and transformers because it reduces power loss. It is an iron alloy with silicon as the main additive element (instead of carbon). The exact formulation is tailored to produce specific magnetic properties: small hysteresis area resulting in low power loss per cycle, low core loss, and high permeability. If you want to know the specifications and prices of Silicon Steel, please contact us!

 

Advantages of Silicon Steel
 

Low loss and High Permeability
A notable feature of silicon steel sheet is its low loss and high magnetic permeability. This is due to the reduction of tiny magnetic domain wall losses between the oriented and non-oriented silicon steel sheets and the optimization of the size and shape of silicon grains. This low loss and high magnetic permeability enable the silicon steel sheet to reduce energy loss when current passes, and provide high-efficiency magnetic permeability.

 

Reduce Eddy Current Loss
Eddy current losses are generated in an alternating magnetic field, which leads to current consumption and heat generation. Silicon steel sheets reduce eddy current losses by introducing silicon particles into the material. Silicon's high resistivity reduces the intensity of eddy currents, thereby reducing energy loss and heat generation. This makes silicon steel sheets particularly suitable for use in equipment such as high-frequency transformers and motors.

 

Suppression of Magnetic Saturation and Noise
The high saturation magnetic induction of silicon steel sheet enables it to withstand high magnetic flux density without saturation. By suppressing magnetic saturation, silicon steel sheets are able to reduce magnetic field fluctuations in transformers and motors, thereby reducing noise and mechanical vibration. This is very important for equipment that requires low noise and smooth operation.

 

Environmental Protection and Sustainability
The production process of silicon steel sheets is relatively environmentally friendly. Compared with ordinary steel, the manufacturing process of silicon steel sheet involves less energy consumption and resource consumption. In addition, its efficient energy conversion characteristics mean that in equipment using silicon steel sheets, less electrical energy is lost, making the entire power system more energy efficient.

 

Types of Silicon Steel
M36 silicon steel
M19 electrical steel
Silicon steel sheet
Silicon electrical steel sheet

1.Cold-rolled silicon steel sheets can be divided into two types: grain-free and grain-oriented, with uniform thickness, good surface quality and high magnetism.


2.oriented silicon steel: The silicon content is above 3.0%, and the process requirements are relatively high. The steel is required to have low oxide inclusions, strong magnetism, and superior high magnetic permeability and low loss characteristics in the rolling direction of easy magnetization.


3.Non oriented silicon steel: The silicon content of the alloy is 1.5%~3.0%, or the sum of silicon and aluminum content is 1.8%~4.0%, the process requirements are relatively low, and the grains in the steel after deformation and annealing are distributed in an irregular orientation.


4.Hot-rolled silicon steel sheets have low utilization rate and large energy loss. my country has clearly required them to stop using them.

 

Different Silicon Steel Grades

 

M19
M19 is the most common grade of silicon steel for motor laminations. And M19 is a low-carbon silicon steel that has excellent magnetic properties, making it well-suited for use in transformer cores. Its high magnetic permeability allows for efficient energy transfer, making it an ideal choice for electrical power transmission and distribution.


M27
M27 has a higher magnetic permeability and lower core losses than M19, making it suitable for high-frequency motors.


M36
With a higher silicon content than M19, M36 exhibits lower core loss, making it an excellent choice for applications where minimizing energy loss is critical. This grade of silicon steel is common in the manufacture of motor laminations, electrical transformers, and other components where low core loss is important.


M45
M45 is a popular grade of silicon steel that is frequently used in electrical motors and generators. Its high silicon content provides enhanced magnetic properties, resulting in increased efficiency and performance.


M47
M47 is a specialized grade of silicon steel that is highly resistant to magnetic aging, making it an exceptional choice for use in high-voltage transformers and reactors. Its high magnetic permeability and low core loss make it ideal for demanding electrical applications where reliability and durability are crucial.


M530-50A
M530-50A is a highly specialized grade of silicon steel that exhibits superior strength and magnetic properties, making it well-suited for use in demanding aerospace and defense applications. Its exceptional magnetic properties allow for efficient energy transfer and precise control, while its strength and durability ensure reliable performance even in extreme environments.


The grain orientation, thickness, and coating also affect the performance of silicon steel. Grain-oriented silicon steel has better magnetic properties than non-oriented silicon steel, but it is more expensive.


Thicker steel sheets result in lower core losses, but they make the lamination stack thicker and increase the weight of the motor. Coatings such as oxide and phosphate can improve the durability and resistance of silicon steel to corrosion.

 

How to Choose Silicon Steel
 
Application Consideration

Selecting the appropriate grade of silicon electrical steel hinges on several critical factors, beginning with the intended application. Different applications, such as transformers versus electric motors, necessitate distinct grades of silicon electrical steel. For instance, grain-oriented electrical steels are tailored for transformer use, while non-oriented electrical steel finds its primary application in motors and generators. The former boasts a highly magnetically oriented grain structure, whereas the latter possesses an isotropic crystal structure, offering superior magnetic properties in all directions.

Frequency Influence

Another crucial consideration is the frequency at which the steel will operate. Frequency significantly influences the steel's resistivity, magnetic permeability, and loss properties. In high-frequency applications, loss properties take precedence, with magnetic permeability playing a lesser role. Conversely, in low-frequency applications, magnetic permeability becomes paramount, while loss properties recede in importance.

Thickness Impact

Additionally, the thickness of the steel is a key determinant in selecting the appropriate grade. Thicker steel is typically required for larger transformers, motors, and generators, as it can endure greater magnetizing force and is less susceptible to mechanical stress. Furthermore, thicker steel exhibits lower magnetic reluctance due to reduced eddy currents.

Magnetic Field Strength Requirement

The required magnetic field strength is another vital factor. Applications with high-field strength demand steel with higher magnetic saturation, while those with low-field strength necessitate steel with lower magnetic saturation.

Cost Consideration

Cost considerations also weigh heavily in the decision-making process. While higher-grade steel offers improved magnetic and mechanical properties, it comes at a higher cost. Therefore, striking a balance between the steel's cost and the desired properties is essential to maximize value for the project.

 

Our Factory
 

GNEE STEEL can process materials such as cold rolling, pickling, galvanizing, color coating, electrical steel, automotive steel and materials with performance below 1000 MPa. The processing warehouse has one cold rolling 1680mm longitudinal shearing production line, one 1800mm cross-cutting unit, one 800mm cross-cutting unit, and one pickling 1800mm cross-cutting and longitudinal cutting unit. The cold rolling processing thickness ranges from 0.2mm-3.2mm, and the pickling processing thickness ranges from 1.5mm-8.0mm. The processing quality is excellent, and we truly strive for excellence, speed first, and deliver on time with guaranteed quality and quantity.

Electrical steel sheet
Silicon metal sheet
Silicon steel
Silicon steel strip

 

Our company
 

Gnee Steel (tianjin) Co., Ltd. has won the trust and praise of customers with perfect and professional pre-sales, in-sales, and after-sales services. The company takes "one-stop service" as its purpose and adheres to the business philosophy of "factory production is not only products, but more importantly reputation and quality". It constantly absorbs new technologies and introduces new equipment. It absorbs various needs of customers with a professional attitude, and is committed to providing customers with better technical services with excellent product quality and good product performance. At the same time, we welcome customers to establish a long-term and good partnership with us. We also warmly welcome customers to visit our company for inspection, visits and technical exchanges!

gnee steel
gnee group

 

Frequently Asked Questions
 

Q: Why do transformers use silicon steel sheets as cores?

A:1. Low magnetic loss to ensure high efficiency output
Silicon steel sheets are a kind of specially treated electrical steel, and their biggest feature is low magnetic loss. When current passes through, silicon steel sheets will reduce the loss of magnetic energy, making the transformer more energy efficient, while also reducing the heat loss of energy conversion. This is why the core of the transformer uses silicon steel sheets in the first place.
2. High magnetic permeability provides better magnetic flux conductivity
The high magnetic permeability of silicon steel sheets is another major advantage. Magnetic permeability is an indicator that describes the magnetic conductivity of a material. High magnetic permeability means better magnetic flux conductivity. By using silicon steel sheets, transformers can more effectively guide electromagnetic energy, reduce magnetic resistance, thereby improving the conduction efficiency of current and making the entire system more stable.
3. Reduce eddy current loss and improve transformer performance
In high-frequency electromagnetic fields, eddy current is an inevitable problem. The use of silicon steel sheets can effectively reduce eddy current loss. Eddy current loss will cause the core to heat up and reduce the working efficiency of the transformer. By cleverly designing the shape and structure of silicon steel sheets, eddy current losses can be effectively reduced and transformer performance can be improved.

Q: What are the properties of silicon steel?

A: Silicon steel, also known as electrical steel, is a ferromagnetic metal alloy that is widely used in electrical applications due to its unique properties.
Some of the key properties of silicon steel include:
High magnetic permeability, which allows it to efficiently store and transfer magnetic energy.
Low core losses, which reduces energy consumption and improves efficiency.
Low coercivity, which means it can be magnetized with relatively low magnetic fields.
Good saturation induction, which means it can reach high levels of magnetization without losing its magnetic properties.
High resistivity, which helps to minimize eddy current losses when exposed to alternating magnetic fields.
Good thermal stability, which allows it to maintain its magnetic properties over a wide range of temperatures.
These properties make silicon steel an ideal material for use in electrical transformers, motors, generators, and other devices where efficient energy transfer is critical.

Q: What is non-grain-oriented electrical steel?

A: Non grain oriented electrical steel, also known as NGOES or simply non-oriented steel, is a type of silicon steel that is specially designed for use in electrical applications.
Unlike grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES), which is manufactured with a specific crystallographic orientation to optimize magnetic properties along one direction, NGOES has no discernible grain orientation.
This means that its magnetic properties are isotropic, or the same in all directions, making it ideal for use in rotating machineries like electric motors and generators.
NGOES is typically made from low-carbon steel that is coated with a thin layer of insulating material to reduce eddy current losses, resulting in high efficiency and reduced energy consumption.

Q: What is silicon steel used for?

A: Silicon steel refers to an extremely low carbon ferrosilicon alloy with a silicon content of 0.5% to 4.5%. It is divided into non-oriented silicon steel and oriented silicon steel due to different structures and uses. Silicon steel is mainly used as the core of various motors, generators, compressors, motors and transformers. It is an indispensable raw material product in the power, home appliance and other industries.

Q: Is silicon steel soft iron?

A: Silicon steel is an important soft magnetic material is used nowadays. It is a ferritic alloy of iron and silicon that has magnetic properties which makes it useful in the electrical industry (generators, motors, and transformers).

Q: What is high silicon steel?

A: This type of steel material contains 1%-4.5% silicon in weight with low carbon of less than 0.08%. The addition of silicon (Si) improves the magnetic softness and increases the electrical resistivity of steel. High silicon steel is an alloy designed for electrical applications with superior magnetic properties that help reduce energy loss and improve the performance of electromagnetic devices.

Q: What are the physical properties of silicon steel?

A: Important physical properties of silicon steels include resistivity, saturation induction, magneto-crystalline anisotropy, magnetostriction, and Curie temperature. Resistivity, which is quite low in iron, increases markedly with the addition of silicon.
Q: What is the role of silicon in silicon steel?
A:Silicon can reduce the density, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of steel, and can promote the coarsening of ferrite grains. Reduce coercivity. It has a tendency to reduce the anisotropy of crystals, making magnetization easier and reducing magnetic resistance. It can be used to produce electrical steel, so the hysteresis loss of silicon steel sheets is low. Silicon can increase the magnetic permeability of ferrite, so that silicon steel sheets have higher magnetic induction in weaker magnetic fields. However, in strong magnetic fields, silicon reduces the magnetic induction of steel. Silicon has a strong deoxidizing power, thereby reducing the magnetic aging effect of iron.

Q: What are the properties of 3% silicon steel?

A: 3% (Grain-Oriented) Silicon Steel is a soft magnetic material that is best used in electrical power transformers and inductors. It has a silicon content up to 3.2 mass %, which increases the electrical resistivity and reduces eddy current losses.
Q: What effects do different alloying elements have on the performance of silicon steel?
A:Carbon is one of the important alloying elements that cause magnetic aging in silicon steel. As the carbon content in silicon steel increases, its iron loss increases; while silicon can significantly reduce the iron loss in silicon steel; but too high a silicon content will make silicon steel brittle and difficult to achieve rolling deformation.
Phosphorus, an impurity alloying element in silicon steel, is mainly used to improve the punching strength of silicon steel, but phosphorus is an interfacial active element, and segregation at grain boundaries will cause severe grain boundary embrittlement. Aluminum can reduce silicon steel core loss and reduce magnetic induction intensity, but high aluminum content will make silicon steel brittle. Copper can significantly improve the rust resistance of silicon steel, and nitrogen and sulfur elements are always harmful to the performance of silicon steel.
Q: What is the process of cold-rolled non-oriented silicon steel?
A:Cold-rolled non-oriented silicon steel process flow: hot metal desulfurization pretreatment → converter blowing → vacuum treatment → continuous casting → hot rolling → pickling cold rolling combined unit → slitting unit/trimming and rewinding unit → wide coil packaging/narrow coil packaging.

Q:What is the process of cold-rolled oriented silicon steel?

A:Cold-rolled oriented silicon steel process flow → primary cold rolling → intermediate annealing → secondary cold rolling → decarburization annealing and insulation coating → high temperature annealing in a bell furnace → hot flattening and insulation coating → longitudinal cutting (or transverse cutting) → packaging

Q:Difference between electric steel B50A300 and B50AR300

A:B50A300 is whole processed product. It can be put into use after being purchased or annealing (reducing the loss through stress relief and construction perfection). But B50AR300 must go through annealing before use.

Gnee Steel (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional silicon steel manufacturers and suppliers in China, specialized in providing high quality products with low price. We warmly welcome you to wholesale cheap silicon steel in stock here and get free sample from our factory. Also, customized service is available.

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