Sensitiveness of Magnetic Inductive Parameters for the Characterization of Recovery and Recrystallization in Cold-Rolled Low-Carbon Steel

The efficacy of some magnetic inductive parameters and of the maximum differential permeability derived from magnetic hysteresis loop measurements is studied in terms of nondestructively monitoring recovery and the onset and the progress of recrystallization in a cold-rolled low carbon steel. The remnant induction, which is known to be affected by the dislocation density, proved useful to monitor recovery, whereas the induction values measured at higher magnetic fields are not sensitive enough. In order to differentiate between contributions from crystal orientation and from changes in microstructure, the effect of texture evolution during recrystallization is analyzed in terms of the average magnetocrystalline energy. All the magnetic inductive parameters considered have proven to be able to characterize the recrystallized fraction when the usual weakening in the intensity of α fiber components and the enhancement of γ fiber components took place during recrystallization.