Cold Rolled Grain Oriented (CRGO) Silicon Steel

-What is Cold Rolled Grain Oriented Silicon Steel?

CRGO Steel Definition: Cold Rolled Grain Oriented (CRGO) silicon steel is defined as a type of electrical steel with improved magnetic properties due to its specific grain orientation. A material that is mainly used in the core of a transformer. When used it gives the transformers and other electrical devices a strong magnetic core.

Cold Rolling Process: CRGO steel is produced through a cold rolling process that aligns grains to enhance magnetic characteristics in the rolling direction, known as Goss texture.

Transformer Applications: The transformer core is constructed by combining thin CRGO sheets (also known as laminations). These laminations can be either wrapped around the coil or stacked. CRGO steel has high electrical resistivity and high magnetic properties in the rolling direction. It reduces core losses in transformers and increases corrosion resistance.

-Silicon steel production history.

The addition of silicon(Si) in iron(Fe) in right proportions with the help of certain manufacturing process significantly improves the magnetic and electrical properties of iron. By the end of 19th century, it was discovered that the addition of silicon to iron significantly improves the resistivity of iron. It not only brought down the eddy current losses in steel, but significant improvement in magnetic permeability and reduction in magnetostriction was observed. CRGO steel was first introduced to make the core of transformers in the 1940s. Almost straight away it was used to replace the previous hot-rolled steels by the 1950s. The production of Cold Rolled Grain Oriented Steel increased and by 1995 it was widely accepted globally and fast became the norm.

-Properties of CRGO Steel

High magnetic permeability.

Reduced magnetostriction.

High resistivity.

Smooth surface and uniform thickness.

Low iron damage.

-The advantages of SOBOOM

SOBOOM's silicon steel has a magnetic induction strength that changes with a high stacking factor. The compact core design minimizes the amount of material used in the winding to enclose the core. This not only helps to reduce core losses (no-load losses), but also allows for minimal load transformer losses or winding losses.