Biodegradable Balloons

One can buy balloons at any local store or have them home delivered too, from companies dealing with balloon manufacture. Streamers, banners, and party favors are always a thing to include when throwing a bash, but balloons always add a little something extra.

The balloons are molded into various shapes and are then used by filling either helium or hydrogen into it, stretching the latex to take the shape that it was molded into. There are two kinds of balloons that are widely used - mylar and latex.

Both balloon types are different in nature where latex balloons are easily identified by their elasticity, being compounds of rubber sap and small traces of non-toxic coagulants and pigments.

Being a hundred percent degradable, it is easily exhausted by water micro-organisms and even soil, at a very fast rate.

Mylar balloons are made from mylar nylon, a material that was developed during the US space program. They are coated with a metallic finish and can be used for imprinting messages/images. These balloons on the other hand aren't biodegradable like latex balloons.

Balloon twisting/balloon modeling is when special modeling balloons can be shaped into anything, usually into animal balloon models. Those who can make balloon animals and other twisted balloon models are called 'Twisters'.

Those who can professionally twist balloons into these works of art use either a single balloon or multiple ones depending on how big a creation they are willing to manifest.

A particular technique knows as the 'circular/plaiting method', was worked out by Marvin Hardy where he refers to this technique as a 'sunburst' in his book The 260Q Decorator. It requires twisting balloons and knotting them in an interconnected fashion that looks circular in nature.

Those long and narrow balloons that we often see, are used by twisters to practice the art of inflation. This is due to the high pressure required and the ability to gauge how much air needs to be gradually added to the balloons.

A length of Full But Not Inflated (FBNI) balloon is left at one end since air is first forced out of the inflated section before the twister moves on to continue. The twisting needs to be done carefully, since knowing how much air can be safely added is ensured, and that it doesn't burst before it is securely tied up.

Bubbles are formed by twisting and pinching the balloon through several rotations. This begins at the deflated lip end of the balloon so that the FBNI fabric is free to allow bubbles being pinched one at a time, avoiding pressure from building up within. This technique is also used to make bubble balloon arches.

This technique is used to create arms for a character or animal figure by using the balloon ends. This requires one to use about five balloons by twisting them and popping protruding ones to form arms and hands.

Four bubbles are a result of a three pinch-and-twist method that constitutes the locking twist technique. If the first and third twist come together, it locks itself forming two bubbles joined at the ends with two individual bubbles apart. It's also known as the standard 'dog's head' twist.

The techniques above can be fairly complicated to comprehend, nonetheless; give it an extensive read (look into tutorials as well) and try it the next time you have people over. It can be a good means of entertainment and an interesting way to discover a lot about a balloon's attributes.

To produce a balloon, a lot goes into its manufacturing process, like using accelerators, curing agents, oil, coagulants (calcium nitrate/water/alcohol), and color. A container holding liquid latex is used to form balloons that have first been coated with coagulants and then dried.

It is then placed in metal molds that resemble rounded lollipop candy on sticks. The balloon molds are then arranged in a single row using a conveyor belt mechanism, that allows these molds to be dipped into liquid latex, thus rising with a thin coat of rubber.

As the molds pass through air, it cures and dries up eventually. A machine is used to roll one end of the balloon to give it that deflated lip end to use for inflation, where a controlled puff blows the final end product off the metal mold as a perfectly set balloon. This is then washed down to remove any remaining nitrate residue.

Helium is the preferred gas to use for inflating latex balloons. These balloons are non toxic, non-flammable and do not contribute to harming the environment in any way.

They can be used in a variety of ways like at birthday parties or as wedding balloon decorations, on graduation ceremonies, parades, bridal showers, performance shows, festivals, sporting events, expositions, showrooms, and even at funerals (done as a symbolic gesture).

Balloon releases are a very common way of being the highlight of an event too. Released in a cavalcade, as the balloons soar skyward, people down below get to witness the spectacular rise of the many colorful balloons.

Balloons that are latex in nature, can be filled with compressed air, helium and suitable liquids like water. Due to its elasticity, the volume of the balloon can be adjusted. Using one's mouth can be one way of filling a balloon with air or by using an electric/manual pump or even a source of compressed air.

When rubber (latex) balloons are filled with helium, they float and acquire a buoyancy that lasts a whole day or more; if one uses air, it can hold its size and shape for a longer period of time.

To make helium a better option, there is a gel based polymer that is used to coat the inside of a balloon thus reducing leakage factors, thereby increasing its float time to about a week or so.

• String and ribbons shouldn't be used when releasing balloons all at once; it should be used only when attached to balloons meant for individual holding purposes. Since they aren't biodegradable (ribbon/string), they can pose as harmful to the environment.

• Try not releasing the balloons as single releases since these can get entwined with power lines, resulting in power cuts due to static caused by the balloon.

Balloon releases should ideally be done with a large clubbing together of balloons in an open area where forecasts predict calm weather, so as to prevent them from being blown away to areas where power lines are evident.

• Avoid using curling ribbon as that tends to stay attached to the balloon's end when it pops in the sky. The ribbon and the balloon end hurtle back to earth, where it can be consumed by animals and cause harm to their digestive systems.

• Important - Make sure that your town/city allows balloon releases into the air since some places prohibit the act. Once you have clearance, the sky is all yours.
• Remember to also check if you have latex allergies before handling latex balloons.

There are many companies that provide biodegradable balloon services to the public. This is either done through web shopping or getting in touch with them to home deliver balloons to you if you're in another state or from out-of-town.

They cater to all kinds of events and have a ton of creative ideas to make an occasion vibrant and special. It is also easy to customize them according to your preferences.

Below are some companies that can help you out with whatever ideas you've got in mind:

• Green way Promos
• Balloon Bonanza
• Bulk Balloons
• Party America
• Balloon Warehouse
• Burton + Burton, The Total Gift Experience
• Continental Sales
• Rainbow Balloons
• T. Myers Magic
• M.K Brody Co.

Biodegradable balloons are a smart choice to go with. Opt for latex instead of plastic (mylar) because of its nature. Latex is recyclable and can be re-used as well but not plastic. Cater to the environment and think about what harm it can cause.

"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon" - Winnie the Pooh