Rare earth intermetallic compound SmNi has been synthesized by melt spinning under argon atmosphere. This sample crystallizes in orthorhombic structure (CrB-type, Space group Cmcm, No. 63) and exhibits texture and nanograin formation. The average crystallite size calculated from powder X-ray diffraction data is 17 nm. Melt-spun SmNi orders ferromagnetically at 47 K (TC) and this is close to TC of the arc-melted sample. The saturation magnetization value at 10 K is only 0.24 μB/f.u., whereas a large coercivity of 24 kOe is observed. Isothermal magnetic entropy change, Δ Sm, shows a maximum at TC, of-1 J/kg K, for 50 kOe field change with a relative cooling power value of 10 J/kg. Small moment of Sm, strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy, complex magnetic structure, and nanograin size all influence the magnetism of melt-spun SmNi. © 1965-2012 IEEE.