The present invention relates to a devolatilization apparatus for devolatilizing compositions containing volatile components, such as for devolatilizing
solid or
liquid polymer compositions containing unreacted monomers, solvents, and / or by-products, the devolatilization apparatus comprising a vessel having at least one inlet for the composition to be devolatilized, at least one outlet for the devolatilized composition, at least one outlet for gas, at least one heatable tray, and optionally at least one heatable
distributor, the vessel comprising a hollow vessel having upper and lower plates, at least a section of the at least one heatable tray and / or the at least one heatable
distributor arranged one on top of the other but spaced apart such that a void chamber is defined between the upper and lower plates. The vessel comprises a double-plate
assembly, each plate having a plurality of openings, each opening of the upper plate being surrounded by a wall that extends through the void chamber to form a plurality of passages that are fluid-tightly separated from hollow spaces defined in the void chambers between the passages and that surround the openings of the lower plate, the hollow spaces being connected to an inlet and an outlet for the heating medium, the upper and lower plates of the hollow double-plate
assembly being connected to each other at their sides via side walls that define the void chambers therebetween, and at least one heatable tray and / or at least one heatable
distributor extending over 10 to 99% of the cross-sectional area of the vessel and surrounded by a non-perforated weir.