Balloon

Lore & Background

The rubber balloon was invented by Michael Faraday in 1824, during experiments with various gases. He invented them for use in the lab.

In Their Own Story

Rayman leaped across the jagged edge of a floating island, his eyes fixed on a cluster of red balloons bobbing gently in the updraft. With a swift punch, he popped the first one, releasing a shower of golden Lums that clattered into his inventory. The remaining balloons drifted higher, taunting him with their elusive motion. He timed his jump perfectly, swinging from a vine to strike the final balloon, which burst open to reveal a hidden Glittering Star, illuminating the dark cavern behind it.

Reader's Guide

Balloons are used for decorating birthday parties, weddings, corporate functions, school events, and for other festive gatherings. The artists who use the round balloons to build are called 'stackers' and the artists who use pencil balloons to build are called 'twisters.' Most commonly associated with helium balloon decor, more recently balloon decorators have been moving towards the creation of air-filled balloon decorations due to the non-renewable natural resource of helium limited in supply. The most common types of balloon decor include arches, columns, centerpieces, balloon drops, sculptures, and balloon bouquets. With the increased aptitude for balloon twisting as well as balloon stacking, the rise of the deco-twister manifests itself as the combination of stacking techniques as well as twisting techniques to create unique and interesting balloon decor options. Party balloons are mostly made of a natural latex tapped from rubber trees, and can be filled with air, helium, water, or any other suitable liquid or gas. The rubber's elasticity makes the volume adjustable. Often the term 'party balloon' will refer to a twisting balloon or pencil balloon. These balloons are manipulated to create shapes and figures for parties and events, typically along with entertainment. Filling the balloon with air can be done with the mouth, a manual or electric inflater (such as a hand pump), or with a source of compressed gas. When rubber or plastic balloons are filled with helium so that they float, they typically retain their buoyancy for only a day or so, sometimes longer. The enclosed helium atoms escape through small pores in the latex which are larger than the helium atoms. However, some types of balloons are labelled 'helium-grade.' These balloons are often thicker and have less porosity. Balloons filled with air usually hold their size and shape much longer, sometimes for up to a week. However, a rubber balloon eventually loses gas to the outside. The process by which a substance or solute migrates from a region of high concentration, through a barrier or membrane, to a region of lower concentration is called diffusion. The inside of balloons can be treated with a special gel (for instance, the polymer solution sold under the 'Hi Float' brand) which coats the inside of the balloon to reduce the helium leakage, thus increasing float time to a week or longer. Begi

Did You Know?

• The rubber balloon was invented by Michael Faraday in 1824, during experiments with various gases.
• Some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig bladder.
• Foil balloons made of Mylar (BoPET) can keep helium from escaping for several weeks.
• Balloon releases have been discouraged by the balloon industry due to environmental concerns.