Studying the grain structure of SMS targets manufactured under variable conditions

The grain structure of samarium sulfide (SmS) targets manufactured by pressing with or without subsequent high-temperature treatment by high-frequency current (HFC) at various pressures has been studied. The density of samples manufactured in various regimes was determined and the optimum technological conditions for obtaining high-quality SMS targets were selected. In particular, the HFC annealing upon pressing at 5 t/cm$^2$ proved to be more effective than the analogous treatment at 4 t/cm$^2$. It is established that the samples obtained by pressing at 5 t/cm$^2$ without high-temperature HFC annealing contain significant amounts of unbound metallic samarium.