A dual-channel, differential, high-speed, stopped-flow calorimeter has been constructed to study the effects of mixing speeds, flow velocities, and pressure drops on the thermal and optical time course of chemical reactions. The system uses a variable-speed flywheel and an electrically actuated clutch to transfer sufficient energy to the four drive syringes to mix reagent volumes of 200 microliters in 5 milliseconds or less. The inlet tubes from the drive syringes, as well as the mixer and the detection chamber, are kept at constant temperature between 25~ and 50~C. An ultrafast thermistor (1 ms) is located in the detection chamber to measure the temperature rise during the reaction. The drive cam profile produces a constant acceleration of the syringes. An optically transparent mixing chamber allows optical measurement of the reaction. The observation tube is now made of cast urethane coated with a 1000-_-thick layer of tantalum to prevent water vapor migration. The observation tube """"""""floats"""""""" in O-ring seals to reduce shock loads during mixing. A linear optical encoder is used to measure the displacement of the drive syringes.
