Cold rolled grain oriented (CRGO) silicon steel is a soft magnetic polycrystalline metallic alloy that is used to manufacture electric motors and transformer cores. First manufactured in 1933 by N. P. Gross, CRGO steel is a highly useful material in modern-day electronics.
Silicon steel is used to manufacture transformers because it keeps eddy current losses at low levels due to the presence of high silicon content in it. Also, silicon steel reduces coercive forces that help minimise losses of reverse magnetization in transformers.
But before using it in making transformers, this silicon steel is cold rolled at room temperature. This allows its grains to orient themselves in a specific direction. This process also reduces the thickness of silicon steel between the range of 0.1-2 mm which makes it harder and stronger.
On the contrary, hot rolled steel refers to the steel that has been rolled at temperatures over 1,700 Fahrenheit. But, they are less beneficial as compared to cold rolled steel. Due to its high usefulness, CRGO silicon is a costly material.
CRGO coil
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