Latex balloons are made from stretchy latex rubber and can be inflated with air or helium. They are molded into shapes, dried, and rolled for easy inflation. They can be twisted into shapes by balloon artists but may cause allergic reactions in some people. Helium-filled balloons can harm the environment and are now restricted in some cities.
Latex balloons are made from latex rubber, a naturally stretchy material used to make everything from latex household paint to latex gloves. In the case of balloons, the rubber is molded into various shapes and ordinary air, or other gases such as helium, can be forced into them for expansion purposes.
Latex balloons start out as special metal molds and a tub of liquefied latex rubber. The bulb molds are lined up in single file along a system of conveyor belts. At the lowest end of the conveyor belt, the molds dip into the latex vat and emerge with a thin rubber coating. As the mold series moves through the air, the latex dries and hardens. A machine rolls one end of the balloon just before a controlled burst of air blows it out of the mold. This rolled end allows users to inflate the balloon more easily.
After opening a package of these balloons, a user can inflate a single balloon by blowing air into it with their lungs or by attaching it to a special container filled with compressed air or helium. It may help to stretch the uninflated balloon several times to reduce the amount of pressure needed to blow it up. Latex balloons can be inflated to many times their original size, but over-inflation often leads to an explosive explosion.
Unlike mylar or foil balloons often seen at parties, latex balloons can be stretched and manipulated into various shapes by skilled balloon artists. Long, thin latex-based balloons are usually twisted into shapes of animals, flowers, or even party hats by professional clowns hired for birthday parties. Traditional round helium-filled balloons can be used to form colorful bouquets or given away as treats for party guests.
Those with a sensitivity to latex or neoprene may not wish to handle latex balloons directly, as contact could trigger a reaction. Sometimes the inside of a balloon will have a powder coating, but the powder is actually cornstarch or some other nontoxic substance used as a mold release agent in the manufacturing plant.
Helium-filled latex balloons are often released into the air during festive occasions, but this practice isn’t always friendly to the environment. Once the balloons reach a certain altitude, their internal pressure becomes greater than the external atmosphere and they eventually burst. The latex remnants can cause problems for waterfowl and other animals that might ingest them, which is why many cities now restrict or regulate large-scale latex balloon launches.
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