Methods and apparatus for processing molten materials

A nozzle assembly for conveying a molten material, the nozzle assembly comprising:

• a nozzle body comprising a material having a melting temperature greater than 1660° C., the material selected from the group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys, zirconium and zirconium alloys, hafnium and hafnium alloys, vanadium and vanadium alloys, niobium and niobium alloys, tantalum and tantalum alloys, chromium and chromium alloys, molybdenum and molybdenum alloys, tungsten and tungsten alloys, platinum and platinum alloys, graphite, molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide, and nickel aluminide, the nozzle body comprising:
• a first surface,
• a second surface,
• a sidewall connecting the first surface and the second surface, and
• a passageway extending through the nozzle body from the first surface to the second surface;
• a layer of ceramic material deposited on an interior surface of the passageway;
• a power source connected to the nozzle assembly, the power source configured to heat the nozzle body;
• and
• a base configured to receive the nozzle body, the base comprising a support surface, wherein at least a portion of the support surface of the base is adjacent at least a portion of the nozzle body, and wherein the base is made of copper or a copper alloy;
• wherein the layer of ceramic material is deposited on all molten material-contacting surfaces of the nozzle body.

A nozzle assembly for conveying a molten material, the nozzle assembly comprising:

• a nozzle body comprising a material having a melting temperature greater than 1660° C., the material selected from the group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys, zirconium and zirconium alloys, hafnium and hafnium alloys, vanadium and vanadium alloys, niobium and niobium alloys, tantalum and tantalum alloys, chromium and chromium alloys, molybdenum and molybdenum alloys, tungsten and tungsten alloys, platinum and platinum alloys, graphite, molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide, and nickel aluminide, the nozzle body comprising:
• a first surface,
• a second surface,
• a sidewall connecting the first surface and the second surface, and
• a passageway extending through the nozzle body from the first surface to the second surface;
• a layer of ceramic material deposited on an interior surface of the passageway;
• a power source connected to the nozzle assembly, the power source configured to heat the nozzle body;
• and
• a base configured to receive the nozzle body, the base comprising a support surface, wherein at least a portion of the support surface of the base is adjacent at least a portion of the nozzle body, and wherein the power source is connected to a portion of the nozzle body and to a portion of the base, the power source configured to heat the nozzle body by direct resistance heating;
• wherein the layer of ceramic material is deposited on all molten material-contacting surfaces of the nozzle body.

A nozzle assembly for conveying a molten material, the nozzle assembly comprising:

• a nozzle body comprising a material having a melting temperature greater than 1660° C., the material selected from the group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys, zirconium and zirconium alloys, hafnium and hafnium alloys, vanadium and vanadium alloys, niobium and niobium alloys, tantalum and tantalum alloys, chromium and chromium alloys, molybdenum and molybdenum alloys, tungsten and tungsten alloys, platinum and platinum alloys, graphite, molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide, and nickel aluminide, the nozzle body comprising:
• a first surface,
• a second surface,
• a sidewall connecting the first surface and the second surface, and
• a passageway extending through the nozzle body from the first surface to the second surface;
• a layer of ceramic material deposited on an interior surface of the passageway;
• and
• a power source connected to the nozzle assembly, the power source configured to heat the nozzle body;
• and
• wherein the layer of ceramic material is deposited on all molten material-contacting surfaces of the nozzle body;
• and
• wherein the nozzle body comprises a slot separating the nozzle body into two interconnected regions, and wherein the power source is connected to the two interconnected regions of the nozzle body, the power source configured to heat the nozzle body by direct resistance heating.