Refractory metal pots

A method of manufacturing a refractory-metal target from a refractory-metal workpiece having a longitudinal axis and a first dimension substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

• without flat-forging the workpiece along an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis:
• (i) upset forging the workpiece along the longitudinal axis, thereby increasing the first dimension of the workpiece and forming a second workpiece,
• (ii) annealing the second workpiece to at least partially recrystallize the second workpiece,
• (iii) forging back the annealed second workpiece along the longitudinal axis, thereby decreasing the first dimension of the annealed second workpiece and forming a third workpiece,
• (iv) upset forging the third workpiece along the longitudinal axis, thereby increasing the first dimension of the third workpiece and forming a fourth workpiece,
• (v) forging back the fourth workpiece along the longitudinal axis, thereby decreasing the first dimension of the fourth workpiece and forming a fifth workpiece,
• (vi) annealing the fifth workpiece to at least partially recrystallize the fifth workpiece,
• (vii) upset forging the annealed fifth workpiece along the longitudinal axis, thereby increasing the first dimension of the annealed fifth workpiece and forming a sixth workpiece, and
• (viii) annealing the sixth workpiece;
• and
• thereafter, and without flat-forging the annealed sixth workpiece along an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis therebetween, forming the annealed sixth workpiece into a plate via a plurality of rolling cycles performed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the annealed sixth workpiece being turned between at least two of the rolling cycles, and a thickness of the plate along the longitudinal axis decreasing during at least one rolling cycle.