The trivalent chromium (Cr) leached from stainless steel slag can be oxidized into hexavalent Cr with strong toxicity in the natural storage process, thus causing severe pollution to the surrounding soil, water, and atmosphere. Currently, the toxicity hazards caused by high Cr concentrations in plants, animals, and humans have attracted widespread attention from across the world. In this study, an overview is presented regarding the occurrence mode, leaching mechanism, and influencing factors for the presence of Cr in the soil of stainless steel slag under natural landfilling conditions. Meanwhile, a summary is made for the research progress in Cr absorption, transport, and accumulation in the soil–plant system. Besides, allowing for the toxicity and detrimental effect of Cr( vi ) in the soil as well as the application of biological and chemical methods for the remediation of Cr( vi )-contaminated soil, a review is conducted on the approach to recycling Cr from stainless steel slag and the application of chemical remediation and biological methods to remedy Cr-containing soil. Finally, a discussion is conducted about the transfer and transformation behavior of Cr in soil–plant system, the practical application of soil remediation technology and the prospect of research in this field.

High-temperature annealing is a key step for the secondary recrystallization of grain-oriented silicon steel, which has an important effect on the final sharp Goss texture. In this work, the effects of three different annealing atmospheres during high-temperature annealing (100%H₂, 25%N₂ + 75%H₂ and 50%N₂ + 50%H₂) on the secondary recrystallization microstructure and texture of Fe-3.2%Si-0.055%Nb low temperature grain-oriented silicon steel were analyzed by optical microscopy (OM) and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) techniques, and the magnetic properties of the samples were compared. The results show that when the high-temperature annealing atmosphere is 100%H₂, the texture of the grains with secondary recrystallization is mainly //ND orientation, but the grains without secondary recrystallization have a disordered orientation. When the high-temperature annealing atmosphere is 50%H₂ + 50%N₂, the secondary recrystallization grains present a Goss texture and brass texture. After high-temperature annealing in the 25%N₂ + 75%H₂ atmosphere, the sample can be fully recrystallized to obtain secondary recrystallization grains; the grain size is relatively uniform and the texture is mainly a Goss texture with a sharp edge. The content of this reaches 93.1%, the magnetic induction B₈₀₀ is the highest, reaching 1.89 T, and the iron loss P_1.7/50 is the lowest, reaching 1.33 W/kg.

Texture control of grain-oriented silicon steel is the key factor to ensure the magnetic properties of the finished product. Nb-containing grain-oriented silicon steel with different slab reheating temperatures was hot rolled followed by single-stage or two-stage cold rolling, and the textures were also analyzed. In the single-stage cold rolling process, as the slab reheating temperature is reduced, the intensity of the rotating cube texture {100} and Goss texture {011} drops, and that of the {111} texture increases. In the two-stage cold rolling process, with the decrease in the slab reheating temperature, the intensity of the {111} texture increases from 4.958 to 6.809. At the same slab reheating temperature, the intensity of the rotating cube texture declines more significantly in the two-stage cold rolling process. Finally, two-stage cold rolling with the slab reheating temperature of 1220 °C is found to be more beneficial for the formation of a sharp Goss texture during the second recrystallization. The magnetic induction intensity B800 of the final product is 1.87 T, and the iron loss P1.7/50 is 1.36 W/kg.

In this study, a multi-gradient microstructure was introduced into medium-Mn steel through torsion following heat treatment at different annealing temperatures, and through investigations on the mechanical properties under two annealing temperatures, it has also been revealed that different annealing temperatures before torsion affect the stability of austenite after torsion, thereby leading to distinct variations in mechanical performance. The yield strengths of the studied steel after annealing at 600 °C and 620 °C were 762 MPa and 673 MPa, with total elongation of 47.4% and 44.1%, respectively. After 90° torsion, the yield strength of experimental steels increased to 834 MPa and 808 MPa, while the elongation decreased to 21.6% and 29.5%, respectively. The gradient distributions from the center to the edge were observed for the austenite volume fraction, average grain size, martensite volume fraction, GND density, and hardness. The comparative analysis of the two annealing temperatures indicates that the larger grain size in the 620—annealed sample leads to its lower yield strength, while its higher austenite volume fraction and moderate stability promote a more sustained TRIP effect during deformation, contributing to its enhanced elongation. This multi-gradient microstructure is responsible for the yield strength improvements of 72 MPa and 135 MPa in the torsioned samples annealed at 600 °C and 620 °C, respectively.