  We measured the electrical resistivity from 2K up to 900K on high quality
single crystals of Lu5Ir4Si10. A clear thermal hysteresis was found at the
onset of the Charge Density Wave (CDW), evidencing the first order nature of
the transition. When tantalum is included in the compound, the CDW is destroyed
and the superconducting critical temperature is enhanced. Finally, we present
specific heat and magnetic penetration depth in the Meissner state. We show
that the superconducting properties are very close to a weak coupling BCS
superconductor.
