Devolatilization can be carried out when a polymer is in the solid or liquid phase, with the volatile components going into a liquid or gas phase.  Examples are:
* Solid polymer, liquid phase: Extraction of caprolactam from Polyamides with water.
* Solid polymer, gas phase: Removal of ethylene from Polyethylene via air or nitrogen in silos.
* Liquid polymer, gas phase: Removal of Styrene from Polystyrene via vacuum.
It is usual for different types of devolatilization steps to be combined to overcome limitations in the individual steps.