Abstract
The principle of minimum rate of entropy production is applied to steady-state transport processes in the neighborhood of an alloy crystal face growing into its melt. The procedure gives a satisfactory rationale of observed interface morphology. It is noted that segregation, which occurs in cellular or dendritic growth of alloys, is a direct manifestation of the system's attempt to minimize entropy production by conserving free energy. The general problems of growth of pure and impure single crystals from the melt and vapor are discussed.

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