How does the Hunter process produce titanium metal?

The Hunter process produces titanium metal by reducing titanium tetrachloride (${\text{TiCl}}_4$) with sodium ($\text{Na}$).123

This chemical reaction is conducted within large, sealed steel vessels at temperatures ranging from approximately 800 to 1,000 °C (1,450 to 1,800 °F). To prevent contamination from air or moisture, the process must be carried out in an inert argon atmosphere.1

The reaction yields titanium in the form of a highly porous material known as sponge, which contains entrapped sodium chloride ($\text{NaCl}$) salt. Following the reaction, the sponge is crushed, and the metal is separated from the salt through either a dilute acid leach or high-temperature vacuum distillation. The resulting sodium chloride can be recycled through electrolytic cells to recover sodium for reuse in the reduction process.13