The presence of boron, nitrogen and sulfur provides strong inhibition to normal grain growth in heavily cold‐rolled 3&percent; silicon‐iron, which permits the development of a precise (110) [001] secondary recrystallization texture during the final anneal. The addition of boron to the magnesia coating, which results in the diffusion of boron into the alloy, has a marked effect on the grain growth behavior during the final anneal of silicon‐iron containing these elements for grain growth inhibition. Alloys initially deficient in either boron or sulfur experience more extensive secondary recrystallization, and therefore achieve a higher induction, as a result of boron being added to the coating. While small additions of boron are helpful, larger additions decrease the induction, the optimum boron addition to the coating being related to the nitrogen content.