Patent ID: 7913884

Claim:
A nozzle assembly for conveying a molten material, the nozzle assembly comprising: a body formed from a material having a melting temperature greater than a melting temperature of the molten material to be conveyed by the nozzle assembly, the body comprising a first surface, a second portion opposite the first surface, and a molten material passageway extending through the body from the first surface to the second portion to permit the flow of molten material through the body, the molten material passageway having an interior surface; a base adapted to receive the 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 body, wherein the base comprises a thermally conductive material, and wherein the base is a split-base comprising two or more components that together are adapted to receive the body, the two or more components each comprising a support surface, wherein at least a portion of each support surface of each split-base component is in direct contact with at least a portion of the sidewall of the body; and a protective layer at least one of directly deposited and indirectly deposited on at least a portion of the first surface of the body and at least a portion of the interior surface of the molten material passageway, the protective layer comprising a material that is essentially non-reactive with the molten material to be conveyed by the nozzle assembly.