Effect of mechanical cutting on the energy loss of laser-scribed grain-oriented alloys

We investigate the effect of mechanical cutting on the magnetic properties of high permeability grain-oriented (HGO) laser-scribed Fe-Si sheets. Measurements have been performed on strips of different widths (5 to 60 mm) cut from 0.27 mm thick sheets. Normal magnetization curve and energy loss have been determined by means of a digitally controlled single strip tester from 1 Hz to 1 kHz at peak magnetic polarization values Jp = 1000 mT and 1700 mT. The results fit into a simple phenomenological model regarding the dependence of magnetization curve and energy loss on the strip width, in substantial continuity with the approach originally developed for non-oriented electrical steels. The hysteresis Wh and excess Wexc loss components are shown to depend on the strip width according to a hyperbolic law, with a limiting fully hardened strip predicted to occur for widths around 3.5 mm. It is then consistently observed that the mechanical cutting of standard 30 mm wide HGO Epstein strips is conducive to an increase of the energy loss at 50 Hz and 1.7 T of the order of 13 %.