Differential thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, and IR spectroscop
y were the tools used to study reactions of powdered and compact samples of
V, Nb, Mo, and W, as well as of Si and Ge, with RuF5. The onset temperatur
es and products of the reactions were determined. The possibility of using
exchange reactions to apply ruthenium coatings to the simple substances tha
t form volatile higher fluorides was shown.