ELECTRICAL STEEL SHEET PROVIDED WITH INSULATING COATING

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20170162295
  • Publication Number
    20170162295
  • Date Filed
    November 11, 2014
    9 years ago
  • Date Published
    June 08, 2017
    7 years ago
Abstract
An electrical steel sheet is provided with insulating coating. The insulating coating contains Si and Fe. The coating weight of Si in the insulating coating in terms of SiO2 is 50% to 99% of the total coating weight. The ratio (Fe/Si) of the content of Fe to the content of Si in the insulating coating is 0.01 to 0.6 on a molar basis. The ratio (C (the organic resin+the lubricant)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) of the coating weight of the organic resin and/or the lubricant in terms of C to the sum of the coating weight of Fe in terms of Fe2O3 and the coating weight of Si in terms of SiO2 preferably is 0.05 to 0.8.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to an electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating which is excellent in punchability and adhesion property even without containing chromium compound.


BACKGROUND

Electrical steel sheets are used in motors, transformers and the like. An insulating coating formed on the electrical steel sheet is required to have various properties such as interlaminar resistance, ease of processing and forming, and stability during storage and usage. In particular, an insulating coating excellent in punchability can reduce the number of times a die used for punching is replaced. An insulating coating excellent in adhesion property reduces the frequency of cleaning due to coating delamination. Therefore, such an insulating coating is easy to handle and excellent in convenience. Properties required for the insulating coating formed on the electrical steel sheet depend on applications. Therefore, various insulating coatings are under development depending on applications.


When an electrical steel sheet is used to manufacture a product, the electrical steel sheet is usually punched, sheared or bent. Working the electrical steel sheet in such a way may possibly deteriorate magnetic properties thereof by residual strain. Stress relief annealing is often performed at a temperature of about 700° C. to 800° C. to ameliorate the deterioration of the magnetic properties. Thus, in performing stress relief annealing, an insulating coating needs to have heat resistance sufficient to withstand heat during stress relief annealing.


Insulating coatings formed on electrical steel sheets can be categorized into three types below:

    • (1) An inorganic coating that withstands stress relief annealing with a focus on weldability and heat resistance.
    • (2) A resin-containing inorganic coating (that is, a coating which has inorganic with some organic materials) that withstands stress relief annealing to achieve both weldability and heat resistance.
    • (3) An organic coating incapable of withstanding stress relief annealing for special applications.


General-purpose insulating coatings capable of withstanding heat during stress relief annealing are those containing an inorganic component as described in Types (1) and (2). The inorganic component used often includes a chromium compound. An example of a Type (2) insulating coating that contains the chromium compound is a chromate insulating coating.


A Type (2) chromate insulating coating is formed by one-coating-one-baking. The Type (2) chromate insulating coating can remarkably enhance the punchability of an electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating and therefore is more widely used as compared to a Type (1) inorganic coating.


For example, Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 60-36476 discloses an electric iron plate having an electrically insulating coating obtained such that a treatment solution is applied to a surface of a base electrical steel sheet and then baked by a common method, the treatment solution being obtained such that a resin emulsion having a vinyl ace-tate/VeoVa ratio of 90/10 to 40/60 as an organic resin and an organic reducing agent are blended with an aqueous solution of a dichromate containing at least one divalent metal in proportions of 5 parts to 120 parts by weight of resin solid matter in the resin emulsion and 10 parts to 60 parts by weight of the organic reducing agent to 100 parts by weight of CrO3 in the aqueous solution.


However, in recent years, electrical steel sheets with an insulating coating containing no chromium compound have been demanded in the field of electrical steel sheets because of rising environmental awareness.


Therefore, an electrical steel sheet with an insulating coating containing no chromium compound has been developed. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-130858 discloses an insulating coating that contains no chromium compound and can improve punchability. The insulating coating disclosed in JP '858 contains resin and colloidal silica (alumina-containing silica). Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-46350 discloses an insulating coating made of one or more of colloidal silica, alumina sol, and zirconia sol that contains a water-soluble or emulsion resin. Japanese Patent No. 2944849 discloses an insulating coating free from a chromium compound that contains a phosphate as a major component and contains resin.


However, electrical steel sheets with an insulating coating containing no chromium compound may be inferior in punchability and adhesion property (adhesion between an insulating coating and an electrical steel sheet) to an insulating coating containing a chromium compound.


On the other hand, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3718638 discloses a method of improving adhesion property by suppressing the amount of Fe in the coating of a polyvalent metal phosphate to satisfy 0≦Fe/P≦0.10. Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-240131 discloses a method of improving properties of an insulating coating by suppressing dissolution of Fe into the coating solution, though no particular values are specified therein.


In general, properties of an insulating coating probably tend to be deteriorated by dissolution of Fe into the insulating coating as suggested above. However, in a coating formed such that a paint containing no chromium compound, where chromium compound produces a passivation effect, is directly applied to a surface of an electrical steel sheet and then baked, it is difficult to control the dissolution of Fe. As a result, it is difficult to sufficiently enhance the performance of the insulating coating, particularly, for example, the punchability and adhesion property thereof.


Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003-193263 and 2004-285481 disclose a method of preparing an iron core having end insulation properties at low temperature in a short time. In the method, formation of a siloxane bond network is accelerated by introducing a metal or metalloid selected from the group consisting of Fe, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Ti, Zr, Nb, B, Al, Ge, Sn, P, Sb, and Bi into an insulating coating in the form of an alkoxide or a chloride. However, JP '263 and JP '481 do not describe how to accelerate formation of the siloxane bond network in detail in an example or do not describe the particular possibility of improving punchability, adhesion property and the like.


It could therefore be helpful to provide an electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating excellent in punchability and adhesion property.


SUMMARY

We have unexpectedly found that, among insulating coatings containing Si derived from a Si compound and which is one of main inorganic components, one containing a specific amount of Fe has enhanced coating properties. We thus provide:

    • (1) An electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating comprises an electrical steel sheet and an insulating coating formed on the electrical steel sheet. The insulating coating contains Si and Fe. The coating weight of Si in the insulating coating in terms of SiO2 is 50% to 99% of the total coating weight. The ratio (Fe/Si) of the content of Fe to the content of Si in the insulating coating ranges from 0.01 to 0.6 on a molar basis.
    • (2) In the electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating specified in Item (1), the insulating coating contains an organic resin and/or a lubricant and, in the insulating coating, the ratio (C (the organic resin+the lubricant)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) of the coating weight of the organic resin and/or the lubricant in terms of C to the sum of the coating weight of Fe in terms of Fe2O3 and the coating weight of Si in terms of SiO2 ranges from 0.05 to 0.8.


An electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating is excellent in punchability and is also excellent in adhesion between an insulating coating and an electrical steel sheet.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING


FIG. 1 is a graph showing the influence of the molar ratio (Fe/Si) in insulating coating on the adhesion property.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Our steel sheets are described below. This disclosure is not limited to the described examples.


Our electrical steel sheet provided with an insulating coating includes an electrical steel sheet and an insulating coating formed on the electrical steel sheet. The electrical steel sheet and the insulating coating are described below in that order.


Electrical Steel Sheet

The electrical steel sheet is not limited to a specific electrical steel sheet. The electrical steel sheet used may be, for example, an electrical steel sheet with a general composition. In general, components contained in the electrical steel sheet are Si, Al, and the like. The remainder of the electrical steel sheet are Fe and inevitable impurities. Typically, the content of Si is 0.05% to 7.0% by mass and the content of Al is 2.0% by mass or less.


The type of the electrical steel sheet is not particularly limited. The following sheets can be preferably used: a so-called soft iron plate (electric iron plate) with high magnetic flux density, a general cold-rolled steel sheet such as SPCC, a non-oriented electrical steel sheet containing Si and Al to increase resistivity and the like. A non-oriented electrical steel sheet based on JIS C 2552:2000 and a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet based on JIS C 2553:2012 can be preferably used.


Insulating Coating

The insulating coating contains Si and Fe. The insulating coating may contain an arbitrary component such as an organic resin. Components contained in the insulating coating are described below.


The insulating coating, which contains Si, can be formed using a Si compound. Examples of the Si compound include colloidal silica, fumed silica, alkoxysilanes, and siloxanes. Using one or more selected from these compounds enables the insulating coating to contain Si.


The Si compound used to form the insulating coating is preferably a Si compound containing a reactive functional group. Using the Si compound containing the reactive functional group probably allows a strong insulating coating to be formed, whereby the adhesion property and punchability are significantly improved. The following groups can be cited as examples of the reactive functional group: an addition-reactive group, a condensation-reactive group, a ring opening-reactive group, and a radically reactive group. Specific examples of the reactive functional group include silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms, alkenyl groups (such as a vinyl group, an allyl group, and a propenyl group), mercapto group-containing organic groups, alkoxy groups (such as a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, and a propoxy group) each bonded to a silicon atom, hydroxy groups each bonded to a silicon atom, halogen atoms each bonded to a silicon atom, amino group-containing organic groups (such as a 2-aminoethyl group and a 3-aminopropyl group), epoxy group-containing organic groups (glycidoxyalkyl groups (such as a 3-glycidoxypropyl group)), epoxycyclohexylalkyl groups (such as a 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyl group), acryl-containing organic groups (such as a 3-acryloxypropyl group), and methacryl-containing organic groups (such as a 3-methacryloxypropyl group).


Among Si compounds containing a reactive functional group, a Si compound containing an epoxy group-containing organic group, an amino group-containing organic group or an alkoxy group bonded to a silicon atom is preferably used from the viewpoint of further enhancing the desired effect.


Further, a Si compound containing two or more types of reactive functional groups bonded to a single Si compound is preferably used. Examples of such a Si compound include Si compounds such as 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-glycidoxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, containing an epoxy group-containing organic group and alkoxy groups bonded to a silicon atom and Si compounds such as 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, containing an amino group-containing organic group and alkoxy groups bonded to a silicon atom.


Further, two or more types of Si compounds containing different reactive functional groups are preferably used. The following combinations can be cited: for example, a combination of a Si compound containing an amino group-containing organic group and a Si compound containing an epoxy group-containing organic group (for example, a combination of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, a combination of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, or the like) and a combination of a Si compound containing an alkoxy group bonded to a silicon atom and a Si compound containing an epoxy group-containing organic group (for example, a combination of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and methyltriethoxysilane, a combination of 3-glycidoxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane and methyltriethoxysilane or the like).


When using the two or more types of Si compounds containing the different reactive functional groups, the ratio between the Si compounds used is not particularly limited and may be appropriately set. When using, for example, the combination of the Si compound containing the amino group-containing organic group and the Si compound containing the epoxy group-containing organic group, the mass ratio (the Si compound containing the amino group-containing organic group/the Si compound containing the epoxy group-containing organic group) between the Si compounds used as raw materials is preferably 0.25 to 4.0. When (the Si compound containing the amino group-containing organic group/the Si compound containing the epoxy group-containing organic group) is 0.25 to 4.0, the effect of enhancing corrosion resistance is obtained. Alternatively, when using the combination of the Si compound containing the alkoxy group bonded to the silicon atom and the Si compound containing the epoxy group-containing organic group, the mass ratio (the Si compound containing the alkoxy group bonded to the silicon atom/the Si compound containing the epoxy group-containing organic group) between the Si compounds, which are used as raw materials, is preferably 0.20 to 3.0. When (the Si compound containing the alkoxy group bonded to the silicon atom/the Si compound containing the epoxy group-containing organic group) is 0.20 to 3.0, the effect of enhancing steam exposure resistance is obtained.


Further, the Si compound containing the reactive functional group is preferably used in combination with colloidal silica and/or fumed silica. In this combination, the mass ratio ((colloidal silica+fumed silica)/the Si compound) of the total amount of the Si compound containing the reactive functional group to the amount of the colloidal silica and/or fumed silica used is preferably 2.0 or less. When the mass ratio ((colloidal silica+fumed silica)/the Si compound) is 2.0 or less, the effect of enhancing scratch resistance is obtained.


The content of Si in the insulating coating is adjusted such that the coating weight of Si (hereinafter referred to as the Si coating weight in some cases) in terms of SiO2 is 50% to 99% of the total coating weight. Herein, the unit “%” refers to “mass percent.” When the Si coating weight is less than 50% of the total coating weight, an adhesion property is not improved and interlaminar resistance is not obtained after annealing. When the Si coating weight is greater than 99% of the total coating weight, the adhesion property and appearance are deteriorated. The term “coating weight” refers to the mass of a dry coating. The coating weight can be determined from dry residual matter (solid matter) obtained by drying a treatment solution to form a coating on a steel sheet at 180° C. for 30 minutes. The term “total coating weight” refers to the actual mass of the dry insulating coating (dry coating).


The insulating coating contains Fe. The insulating coating containing Fe can be formed using an Fe compound (a compound that gives off Fe ions or Fe colloid in a treatment solution to form the insulating coating). Alternatively, the insulating coating containing Fe may be formed such that Fe is dissolved from the electrical steel sheet during formation of the insulating coating. Examples of the Fe compound include iron acetate, iron citrate, and ammonium ferric citrate.


The amount of dissolved Fe can be adjusted depending on a steel component of the electrical steel sheet; the pH of the treatment solution used to form the insulating coating; the time elapsed until the treatment solution applied to the electrical steel sheet is baked; or the like. In particular, as the content of Al in the electrical steel sheet is higher, the amount of dissolved Fe tends to be smaller. As the content of Si in the electrical steel sheet is higher, the amount of dissolved Fe tends to be larger. As the pH of the treatment solution is lower, the amount of dissolved Fe tends to be larger. As the time elapsed until the treatment solution applied to the electrical steel sheet is baked is longer, the amount of dissolved Fe tends to be larger. Increasing the amount of dissolved Fe by adjusting these factors enables the amount of Fe contained in the insulating coating to be increased. Reducing the amount of dissolved Fe by adjusting these factors enables the amount of Fe contained in the insulating coating to be reduced.


The content of Fe in the insulating coating needs to be adjusted such that the ratio (Fe/Si) of the amount of Fe to the amount of Si in the insulating coating is 0.01 to 0.6 on a molar basis. The reason why coating properties are enhanced when the ratio (Fe/Si) is within the above range is unclear and probably because reactivity of the Si compound with Fe is high. That is, Si and Fe are probably bonded to each other with 0 therebetween to form an excellent insulating coating. When the ratio (Fe/Si) is extremely low, a reaction proceeding between the insulating coating and a surface of the electrical steel sheet is probably insufficient and therefore the adhesion property is insufficient. When the ratio (Fe/Si) is high, the amount of Fe in the insulating coating is large and the formation of a bond between Si and Fe (Si—O—Fe—O—Si or the like) is probably inhibited. Hence, the adhesion property and punchability are deteriorated. The ratio (Fe/Si) is preferably 0.01 to 0.60, more preferably 0.02 to 0.5, and most preferably 0.02 to 0.50.


How to determine the ratio (Fe/Si) is not particularly limited if the desired effect can be confirmed. The ratio (Fe/Si) can be determined by, for example, Auger electron spectroscopy, depth-wise analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the EDS analysis of the coating by cross-sectional TEM, or dissolution of the coating in hot alkali. In Auger electron spectroscopy, the ratio (Fe/Si) can be determined such that depth-wise analysis is performed with sputtering performed and the average value of each of Fe and Si is determined until the intensity of Si decreases by half. In this operation, the number of analyzed spots is preferably ten or more. In the dissolution of the coating in hot alkali, the ratio (Fe/Si) can be determined such that, for example, a coating-equipped steel sheet is immersed in a heated 20 mass percent aqueous solution of NaOH, a coating is dissolved therein (hot alkali dissolution), and Fe and Si in the aqueous solution are subjected to ICP analysis.


The insulating coating may contain an organic resin. Allowing the insulating coating to contain the organic resin enables properties of the insulating coating to be further enhanced. The organic resin is not particularly limited and any known one conventionally used is advantag-eously suitable. Examples of the organic resin include aqueous resins (emulsion, dispersion, water-soluble) such as an acrylic resin, an alkyd resin, a polyolefin resin, a styrene resin, a vinyl acetate resin, an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, a polyester resin, a urethane resin, and a melamine resin. In particular, an emulsion of an acrylic resin or an ethylene-acrylic acid resin is preferable.


The organic resin effectively contributes to improvements in scratch resistance and punchability and the content thereof is not particularly limited. The content of the organic resin in the insulating coating is preferably adjusted such that the ratio (C (the organic resin)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) of the coating weight of the organic resin in terms of C to the sum of the coating weight of Fe in terms of Fe2O3 and the coating weight of Si in terms of SiO2 is 0.05 to 0.8. Herein, the coating weight is given in mass percent. When (C (the organic resin)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) is 0.05 or more, the effect of enhancing punchability is obtained. When (C (the organic resin)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) is 0.8 or less, scratch resistance is ensured.


The insulating coating may contain a lubricant. The effect of enhancing scratch resistance and punchability is obtained by allowing the insulating coating to contain the lubricant.


The lubricant used may be, for example, one or more of polyolefin waxes (for example, polyethylene waxes), paraffin waxes (for example, synthetic paraffin, natural paraffin, and the like), fluorocarbon waxes (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene and the like), fatty acid amide compounds (for example, stearamide, palmitamide and the like), metal soaps (for example, calcium stearate, zinc stearate and the like), metal sulfides (for example, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide and the like), graphite, graphite fluoride, boron nitride, polyalkylene glycols, and alkali metal sulfates and the like. In particular, a polyethylene wax and a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) wax are preferable.


The amount of the lubricant is not particularly limited and preferably adjusted such that the ratio (C (the lubricant)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) of the coating weight of the lubricant in terms of C to the sum of the coating weight of Fe in terms of Fe2O3 and the coating weight of Si in terms of SiO2 is 0.05 to 0.8. The ratio thereof more preferably is 0.05 to 0.3. When the ratio of the coating weight is 0.05 or more, the effect of reducing the friction with a punching die is obtained, which is therefore preferable. The ratio is preferably 0.8 or less because the coating is not peeled off during slitting.


The insulating coating may contain both the organic resin and the lubricant. In this case, the content of the organic resin and lubricant in the insulating coating is preferably adjusted such that the ratio (C (the organic resin+the lubricant)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) of the sum of the coating weight of the organic resin in terms of C and the coating weight of the lubricant in terms of C to the sum of the coating weight of Fe in terms of Fe2O3 and the coating weight of Si in terms of SiO2 is 0.05 to 0.8. When the ratio thereof is within this range, the effects due to the organic resin and the lubricant are obtained.


The insulating coating may further contain another component such as a surfactant, a rust preventive, an oxidation inhibitor, an additive usually used, an inorganic compound, or an organic compound in addition to the above components. Examples of the inorganic compound include boric acid and pigments.


Above other component may be contained in the insulating coating such that the desired effect is not impaired. For example, the content of the other component is preferably adjusted such that the ratio (the other component/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) of the coating weight of the other component to the sum of the coating weight of Fe in terms of Fe2O3 and the coating weight of Si in terms of SiO2 is 0.8 or less. When (the other component/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) is 0.8 or less, scratch resistance is ensured.


The thickness of the insulating coating, which contains the above components, is not particularly limited and may be set depending on properties required for the insulating coating. In an insulating coating of a typical electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating, the insulating coating has a thickness of 0.01 μm to 10 μm. The thickness of the insulating coating is preferably 0.05 μm to 1 μm.


A method of manufacturing the electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating is described below.


The electrical steel sheet may be a common one as described above. Thus, the electrical steel sheet may be one manufactured by a common method or a commercially available one.


Pretreatment of the electrical steel sheet, which is a raw material, is not particularly limited. That is, the electrical steel sheet may be untreated. It is advantageous that the electrical steel sheet is degreased with alkali or is pickled with hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, or the like.


The treatment solution used to form the insulating coating is prepared. The treatment solution can be prepared by adding, for example, the Si compound to deionized water. The treatment solution may be prepared by adding the Fe compound, the organic resin, the lubricant, and/or another compound to deionized water as required.


The pH of the treatment solution may be adjusted when the treatment solution is prepared. The pH of the treatment solution is one of factors affecting the amount of Fe in the insulating coating as described above. Thus, from the viewpoint of the desired amount of Fe, the pH of the treatment solution is preferably adjusted together with the elapsed time (the time elapsed until the treatment solution applied to the electrical steel sheet is baked), the composition of the electrical steel sheet or the like. When adjusting the pH of the treatment solution, the pH of the treatment solution is preferably adjusted to 3 to 12. The pH of the treatment solution is preferably 3 or more because the amount of Fe in the coating is unlikely to be excessive. The pH of the treatment solution is preferably 12 or less because the amount of Fe in the coating is unlikely to be short.


Next, the treatment solution is applied to a surface of the electrical steel sheet and left for a certain time. The elapsed time is one of the factors affecting the amount of Fe in the insulating coating as described above. In particular, leaving the treatment solution for a certain time allows Fe in the electrical steel sheet to be dissolved in the treatment solution. This enables the insulating coating to contain Fe. Thus, from the viewpoint of the desired amount of Fe, the elapsed time is preferably adjusted together with the pH of the treatment solution, the composition of the electrical steel sheet, the temperature of an atmosphere in which the treatment solution is left (room temperature of, for example, 10° C. to 30° C.) or the like. When adjusting the elapsed time, the elapsed time is preferably adjusted to 3 seconds to 220 seconds and more preferably 10 seconds to 100 seconds.


A process of applying the treatment solution to the electrical steel sheet is not particularly limited. Various tools such as a roll coater, a flow coater, a spray, and a knife coater can be used to apply the treatment solution to the electrical steel sheet.


Next, the treatment solution applied to the electrical steel sheet is baked to form an insulating coating. A process of baking the treatment solution is not particularly limited. Hot-air heating, infrared heating, induction heating and the like usually used can be used. The baking temperature of the treatment solution is not particularly limited and may be set such that the temperature of the steel sheet reaches about 150° C. to 350° C. The baking time thereof is not particularly limited and may be selected from, for example, 1 second to 10 minutes.


The electrical steel sheet provided with an insulating coating can be relieved of the strain due to, for example, punching by stress relief annealing. A preferable atmosphere for stress relief annealing is an atmosphere such as an N2 atmosphere or a DX gas atmosphere, unlikely to oxidize iron. Corrosion resistance can be enhanced such that the dew point Dp is set to an elevated temperature, for example, about 5° C. to 60° C. and a surface and a cut end surface are slightly oxidized. The temperature of stress relief annealing is preferably 700° C. to 900° C. and more preferably 700° C. to 800° C. The holding time at a stress relief annealing temperature is preferably long and more preferably 1 hour or more.


The insulating coating is preferably placed on both surfaces of the steel sheet and may be placed on a single surface thereof depending on purposes. Alternatively, the insulating coating may be placed on a single surface thereof and another insulating coating may be placed on another surface thereof.


EXAMPLES

As shown in Table 1, treatment solutions were prepared such that Si compounds were added to deionized water together with organic resins, Fe compounds, or lubricants as required. The pH of each treatment solution was as shown in Table 1. In Table 1, the amount of each component is given in parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of all effective components excluding water and a solvent. The total concentration of solid matter of the components with respect to the amount of deionized water was 50 g/l. In Table 1, S1 to S7 representing the Si compounds are as shown in Table 2, R1 to R3 representing the organic resins are as shown in Table 3, F1 and F2 representing the Fe compounds are as shown in Table 4, and L1 and L2 representing the lubricants are as shown in Table 5.


Each treatment solution was applied to a surface (single surface) of a specimen, cut out of an electrical steel sheet (A360 (JIS C 2552 (2000)) having a thickness of 0.35 mm, having a width of 150 mm and a length of 300 mm using a roll coater; left for a time (time elapsed after application until baking) shown in Table 1; and then baked in a hot-air baking oven at a baking temperature (i.e., temperature to which the steel sheet was heated) shown in Table 1 for a baking time shown in Table 1, followed by cooling to room temperature, whereby an insulating coating was formed.


The coating weight of Si in the insulating coating in terms of SiO2, the coating weight of Fe in the insulating coating in terms of Fe2O3, and the coating weight of each organic resin or lubricant in the insulating coating in terms of C were measured such that the insulating coating was heated and dissolved in a heated 20 mass percent aqueous solution of NaOH and Fe, Si, and C in the aqueous solution were subjected to ICP analysis. The following items were shown in Table 1: the amount of Si (the coating weight in terms of SiO2), the amount of Fe (the coating weight in terms of Fe2O3), the molar ratio (Fe/Si) of Fe to Si, the ratio between the coating weights (the coating weight of the organic resin in terms of C: C (the organic resin)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)), the ratio between the coating weights (the coating weight of the lubricant in terms of C: C (the lubricant)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)), and the proportion (Si content in Table 1) of the amount of Si to all the coating weight.


Results obtained by investigating coating properties (punchability and adhesion property) of obtained electrical steel sheets provided with insulating coating are shown in Table 1 (product sheets in Table 1). Only some of the electrical steel sheets provided with insulating coating were evaluated for punchability.


Annealed sheets obtained by subjecting the electrical steel sheets provided with insulating coating to stress relief annealing at 750° C. for 2 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere were also evaluated for coating properties. Evaluation results are shown in Table 1 (annealed sheets in Table 1).


A particular method of evaluating each of punchability and adhesion property and evaluation standards for punchability and adhesion property were as described below.


Punchability

Each electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating was punched using a steel die with a diameter of 15 mm until the height of a burr reached 50 μm. The punchability was evaluated on the basis of the number of times the electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating was punched. Evaluation standards were as described below. Evaluation results were shown in Table 1.


Judgement Standards

A: 1,200,000 times or more


B: 1,000,000 times to less than 1,200,000 times


C: 700,000 times to less than 1,000,000 times


D: 300,000 times to less than 700,000 times


E: less than 300,000 times


Adhesion Property

An adhesive cellophane tape was stuck on the surface of each electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating. After the electrical steel sheet provided with insulating coating was bent inward to a radius of 10 mm, the adhesive cellophane tape was peeled off and the residual state of the coating on the steel sheet was evaluated by visual observation. Evaluation standards were as described below. Evaluation results were shown in Table 1. The relationship between the molar ratio (Fe/Si) and adhesion property measured in Comparative Examples 1 to 4 and Examples 1 to 7 is shown in FIG. 1.


Judgement Standards

A: a residual rate of 90% or more


B: a residual rate of 60% or more to less than 90%


C: a residual rate of 30% or more to less than 60%


D: a residual rate of less than 30%


As shown in Table 1, every electrical steel sheet provided with our insulating coating obtained was excellent in punchability and adhesion property.











TABLE 1









Insulating coating



Inorganic component













Amount

Amount




of Si in

of Fe in



Si compound added to treatment solution
insulating
Fe
insulating


















S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
coating
compound
coating



Parts
Parts
Parts
Parts
Parts
Parts
Parts
(in terms
added to
(in terms



by
by
by
by
by
by
by
of SiO2)
treatment
of Fe2O3)


No.
mass
mass
mass
mass
mass
mass
mass
gm2
solution
g/m2





Comparative
50

50




0.30

0.001


Example 1


Comparative
50

50




0.30

0.002


Example 2


Example 1
50

50




0.30

0.004


Example 2
50

50




0.30

0.008


Example 3
50

50




0.30

0.019


Example 4
50

50




0.30

0.039


Example 5
50

50




0.30

0.126


Example 6
50

50




0.30

0.204


Example 7
50

50




0.30

0.249


Comparative
50

50




0.30

0.326


Example 3


Comparative
50

50




0.30

0.417


Example 4


Example 8
50


50



0.30

0.041


Example 9

50


50


0.30

0.039


Example 10
50




50

0.30

0.048


Example 11
50





50
0.30

0.034


Example 12




50

50
0.30

0.038


Example 13





50
50
0.30

0.038


Example 14
60



30
10

0.30

0.046


Example 15
60



15
25

0.30

0.032


Example 16
30

30

20
20

0.30

0.039


Example 17
15

15

30
20
20
0.30

0.039


Example 18
50

50




0.30
F1
0.085


Example 19
50

50




0.30
F2
0.062


Example 20
50

50




0.30

0.053


Example 21
50

50




0.30

0.056


Example 22
50

50




0.30

0.031


Example 23
50

50




0.05

0.001


Example 24
50

50




0.10

0.007


Example 25
50

50




0.50

0.143


Example 26
50

50




1.00

0.615


Example 27
100 






0.30

0.055


Example 28


100 




0.30

0.011


Example 29




100 


0.30

0.065


Example 30





100 

0.30

0.088


Example 31
15

50




0.30

0.054


Example 32
50

15




0.30

0.084


Example 33
15



50


0.30

0.024


Example 34
100 



 5


0.30

0.121


Example 35
25

25



100 
0.30

0.069


Example 36
60



30
10

0.30

0.046


Example 37
15

15

30
20
20
0.30

0.039


Example 38
50

50




0.30

0.034












Insulating coating











Organic resin
Lubricant















Inorganic

(C (organic

(C (organic




component

resin)/

resin)/



Molar

(Fe2O3 +

(Fe2O3 +



ratio of
Organic
SiO2))

SiO2))



Fe to Si
resin
Ratio
Lubricant
Ratio



in
added to
between
added to
between
SiO2



insulating
treatment
coating
treatment
coating
Content


No.
coating
solution
weights
solution
weights
%





Comparative
0.002




99.7


Example 1


Comparative
0.004




99.5


Example 2


Example 1
0.010




98.7


Example 2
0.019




97.5


Example 3
0.048




94.0


Example 4
0.097




88.5


Example 5
0.314




70.5


Example 6
0.509




59.6


Example 7
0.623




54.6


Comparative
0.814




48.0


Example 3


Comparative
1.043




41.8


Example 4


Example 8
0.103




87.9


Example 9
0.097




88.5


Example 10
0.121




86.1


Example 11
0.086




89.7


Example 12
0.095




88.8


Example 13
0.095




88.8


Example 14
0.116




86.6


Example 15
0.081




90.3


Example 16
0.097




88.5


Example 17
0.098




88.4


Example 18
0.213




77.9


Example 19
0.156




82.8


Example 20
0.132
R1
0.1


78.4


Example 21
0.141
R2
0.5


59.2


Example 22
0.077
R3
0.7


55.5


Example 23
0.015




98.0


Example 24
0.052




93.5


Example 25
0.214




77.8


Example 26
0.461




61.9


Example 27
0.137




84.6


Example 28
0.027




96.5


Example 29
0.162




82.2


Example 30
0.221




77.2


Example 31
0.135




84.7


Example 32
0.210




78.1


Example 33
0.059




92.7


Example 34
0.303




71.2


Example 35
0.173




81.3


Example 36
0.116


L1
0.1
86.6


Example 37
0.098


L2
0.3
88.4


Example 38
0.086
R1
0.5
L1
0.3
52.5














Time elapsed





after

Coating properties














pH of
application
Baking
Baking
Punchability
Adhesion property















treatment
until baking
temperature
time
Product
Product
Annealed


No.
solution
Seconds
° C.
Seconds
sheet
sheet
sheet





Comparative
5.8
3
250
30

D
C


Example 1


Comparative
6.1
5
250
30

C
C


Example 2


Example 1
5.9
7
250
30

B
B


Example 2
5.7
10
250
30

A
B


Example 3
6.3
12
250
30

A
B


Example 4
5.6
15
250
30
B
A
B


Example 5
5.9
20
250
30

A
B


Example 6
6.3
30
250
30

A
B


Example 7
5.8
40
250
30

B
B


Comparative
6.0
60
250
30

C
C


Example 3


Comparative
5.6
90
250
30

D
D


Example 4


Example 8
4.5
15
250
30

A
B


Example 9
5.1
15
250
30

A
B


Example 10
6.8
15
250
30

A
B


Example 11
5.2
15
250
30

A
B


Example 12
5.3
15
250
30

A
B


Example 13
6.7
15
250
30

B
B


Example 14
5.2
15
250
30

A
B


Example 15
6.4
15
250
30

A
B


Example 16
5.6
15
250
30

A
B


Example 17
4.2
15
250
30

A
B


Example 18
5.7
15
250
30

A
B


Example 19
5.4
15
250
30

A
B


Example 20
5.8
15
250
30
A
A
B


Example 21
6.5
15
250
30
A
A
B


Example 22
5.7
15
250
30
A
A
B


Example 23
6.1
15
250
30

A
B


Example 24
6.3
15
250
30

A
B


Example 25
5.7
15
250
30

A
B


Example 26
5.9
15
250
30

A
B


Example 27
6.0
15
250
30

A
B


Example 28
8.1
15
250
30

A
B


Example 29
5.9
15
250
30

A
B


Example 30
6.2
15
250
30

B
B


Example 31
5.8
15
250
30

A
B


Example 32
4.9
15
250
30

A
B


Example 33
6.2
15
250
30

A
B


Example 34
4.1
15
250
30

A
B


Example 35
5.3
15
250
30

B
B


Example 36
5.2
15
250
30
A
A
B


Example 37
4.2
15
250
30
A
A
B


Example 38
5.7
15
250
30
A
A
B



















TABLE 2





Symbol
Name
Category
Trademark







S1
3-Glycidoxypropyltrimeth-
Alkoxysilane
KBM-403



oxysilane


S2
3-Glycidoxypropylmethyl-
Alkoxysilane
KBM-402



dimethoxysilane


S3
3-Aminopropyltrimethoxy-
Alkoxysilane
KBM-903



silane


S4
N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-amino-
Alkoxysilane
KBM-603



propyltrimethoxysilane


S5
Methyltriethoxysilane
Alkoxysilane
KBE-13


S6
Colloidal silica

SNOWTEX ® O


S7
Fumed silica

AEROSIL ® 200



















TABLE 3





Symbol
Name
Maker
Trademark







R1
Polyester resin
Toyobo
VYLONAL ® MD1200


R2
Acrylic resin
DIC
Voncoat ® CP6140


R3
Urethane resin
ADEKA
ADEKA BONTIGHTER ® HUX



















TABLE 4





Symbol
Name
Maker
Trademark







F1
FeOOH




F2
Fe2O3





















TABLE 5





Symbol
Name
Maker
Trademark







L1
Polyethylene wax
Mitsui Chemicals
HI-WAX ® 400P


L2
PTFE wax
Du Pont
nanoFLON PTFE AQ-60








Claims
  • 1-2. (canceled)
  • 3. An electrical steel sheet provided with an insulating coating comprising an electrical steel sheet and an insulating coating formed on the electrical steel sheet, wherein the insulating coating contains Si and Fe,a coating weight of Si in the insulating coating in terms of SiO2 is 50% to 99% of the total coating weight, anda ratio (Fe/Si) of content of Fe to content of Si in the insulating coating is 0.01 to 0.6 on a molar basis.
  • 4. The electrical steel sheet according to claim 3, wherein the insulating coating contains an organic resin and/or a lubricant and, in the insulating coating, a ratio (C (the organic resin+the lubricant)/(Fe2O3+SiO2)) of the coating weight of the organic resin and/or the lubricant in terms of C to the sum of the coating weight of Fe in terms of Fe2O3 and the coating weight of Si in terms of SiO2 is 0.05 to 0.8.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
2013-246473 Nov 2013 JP national
2014-133514 Jun 2014 JP national
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/JP2014/005661 11/11/2014 WO 00