Tungsten Trisilicide, WSi₃

Tungsten Trisilicide, WSi₃, was isolated by Frilley from a mixed iron tungsten silicide containing 9 per cent, iron, 51.6 per cent, tungsten, and 38.4 per cent, silicon by successive treatment with concentrated hydrofluoric acid, hot concentrated sodium hydroxide, and dilute hydrofluoric acid. The crystals obtained were white and lustrous, and exhibited similar chemical properties to those of the disilicide.

A method of producing the silicides by direct union has been described. The constituents are pressed into bars, and these are subjected to resistance heating.

Methods of obtaining the mixed silicides are described by Frilley, but these products generally contain iron silicide in considerable quantity. An aluminium tungsten silicide has also been described.