The present invention relates to a process and a device for the continuous
manufacture of a polymer of an aromatic alkylene monomer e.g. styrene
comprising a bulk polymerisation of the monomer and a devolatilization of
the resulting polymer in at least two successive steps so as to separate
the polymer from the unreacted monomer and the oligomers formed during
the polymerisation. The process comprises conveying a first gas stream
resulting from the first step of the devolatilization into a first zone
Z1 for direct condensation and fractionation, removing a gas stream G1
comprising essentially the monomer from the top of Z1, and removing a
liquid stream L1 rich in oligomers from the bottom of Z1, a portion of L1
being taken, cooled and then returned into Z1. It also comprises
conveying a second gas stream resulting from the second step of the
devolatilization into a second zone Z2 for direct condensation and
fractionation, this zone being also fed with the other portion of L1,
removing a gas stream G2 comprising the monomer from the top of Z2, and
removing a liquid stream L3 comprising essentially the oligomers from the
bottom of Z2. The process and the device are particularly suitable for
continuously manufacturing a styrene polymer, a styrene copolymer having
a high impact strength modified by grafting onto a rubber, an expandable
polystyrene or an expanded polystyrene. The invention is useful for
improving the separation of the unreacted monomer from the oligomers and
the quality of the polymer when the unreacted monomer thus separated is
recycled e.g. to the polymerisation.