We discuss the kinetics of phase separation based on the mechanism of spinodal decomposition. The starting point is Boltzmann's transport equation. A perturbation theory will be developed leading to a hierarchy of differential equations for the local density. The first member of this hierarchy is a nonlinear wave-type equation, which linearized version will be solved in order to discuss the behaviour of the amplification factor. Additionally, we compare our results with those of standard diffusion-type approximations and molecular dynamics calculations.