Processing for cube-on-edge oriented silicon steel

In a process for producing electromagnetic silicon steel having a cube-on-edge orientation and a permeability of at least 1870 (G/O.sub.e) at 10 oersteds, which process includes the steps of:

• preparing a melt of silicon steel containing from 0.02 to 0.06% carbon, from 0.015 to 0.15% manganese, from 0.01 to 0.05% of material from the group consisting of sulfur and selenium, from 0.0006 to 0.0080% boron, up to 0.0100% nitrogen, up to 1.0% copper, no more than 0.008% aluminum and from 2.5 to 4.0% silicon;
• casting said steel;
• hot rolling said steel;
• cold rolling said steel to a final gage no greater than 0.020 inch;
• normalizing said steel;
• decarburizing said steel to a carbon level below 0.005%;
• applying a refractory oxide base coating to said steel;
• and final texture annealing said steel;
• the improvement comprising the step of normalizing said cold rolled steel of final gage at a temperature of from 1550.degree. to 2000.degree. F in a hydrogen-bearing atmosphere, so as to recrystallize the cold rolled steel;
• and subsequently applying said refractory oxide base coating to said steel;
• said processed steel having a permeability of at least 1870 (G/O.sub.e) at 10 oersteds;
• said normalize at a temperature of from 1550.degree. to 2000.degree. F contributing to the high permeability of said steel.