Here are the processes of making balloons
Balloons are common during different celebrations around the world and the processes of making these are amazing.
These days, a toy balloon comes in different sizes, colors, and shapes. It is a common decoration for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and a lot of important occasions. Based on the article in How Products Are Made, the balloon was invented in France in the late 18th century.
Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier who were papermakers, discovered that when paper bags are filled with hot air, they rise.
This prompted them to experiment with balloons of various materials such as paper, cloth, and silk. The first public demonstration of a lighter-than-air balloon was done in June 1783. It was a 5-foot (11 m) diameter balloon made of cloth lined with paper. At that time, these were used in the fields of science, sport, and war.
Earlier versions of these were made entirely of rubber. The development happened when the first rubber factory in the world was established near Paris in 1803. When the method of retarding the coagulation of liquid latex was developed in 1921, this brought innovations to the making of a balloon. Latex was later on used to make this.
The process starts by dipping a mold into liquid latex which needs to be colored. The mold, or form, is shaped like a deflated balloon.
It is first heated and immersed in a tank of coagulant solution for a few seconds. The coagulant solution is often a mixture of water, a calcium-based salt, soap, and talc powder. After this, it is heated to a temperature between 100°F (38°C) and 200°F (93°C), and then immersed in a tank of colored latex, This will only take a few seconds.
Then, the forms must be inserted and removed at carefully controlled speeds. This is to avoid trapping air bubbles and to achieve an even, thin coating.
This video from Discovery UK showed the whole process.
Balloons are not only for special occasions, it has become also a way to express celebration online through balloon emoji. Speaking of emojis, do you know the meaning behind the different heart emojis?