Particles, maps and irreversible thermodynamics

We analyze some models of nonequilibrium systems proposed in the past decade which derive the laws of irreversible thermodynamics from deterministic dynamics. We find that these models do not posses the crucial property of local thermodynamic equilibrium, since they represent noninteracting particles systems. Hence, these models are not suited for a derivation of irreversible thermodynamics. In order to derive the laws of irreversible thermodynamics, it is essential that models with interacting particles be considered.