The tendency for alloy constituents to freeze at different temperatures during (real, non-equilibrium) solidification so that there is an uneven distribution of these elements in the alloy. Such segregation can occur on either a microscopic scale, as the natural result of solute redistribution (due to the distribution coefficient), or on a macroscopic scale as the result of improper (incomplete) mixing of dissimilar metals or alloys or due to gravity effects in alloys. See METALLURGY.