| A flexible bag filled with helium, hydrogen, nitrous | | | | animals through ingestion or entanglement. |
| oxide or air is called a balloon. Dried animal bladders | | | | • Latex balloons are dangerous to sea creatures. |
| were used as early balloons. Rubber, latex, | | | | Its elasticity remains for 12 months or more when |
| chloroprene or nylon fabrics are used to make | | | | exposed to sea water. |
| modern balloons. Though balloons are decorative in | | | | Art in balloons |
| nature it is used for meteorology, medical treatment, | | | | Sculpture balloons are made by balloon artists who |
| military defence and even transportation. | | | | are entertainers. Hundreds of helium balloons are used |
| History | | | | to create balloon sculptures by decorators. They are |
| | | | commonly used as table decorations. To keep them |
| • Michael Faraday invented the rubber balloon in | | | | from floating away a ribbon is curled and added with |
| 1824. | | | | a weight. |
| • J. G. Ingram of London (1847) first | | | | Water balloons |
| manufactured latex balloons. Mass production started | | | | These thin small rubber balloons which can be easily |
| only in 1930. | | | | broken are used by children. |
| Balloons as decorative | | | | Rocket balloons These balloons are made by |
| Party balloons are made of natural latex, recycled | | | | releasing standard toy balloons into the air with the |
| material such as old tyres and tennis shoes. The air is | | | | mouth of the balloon left open. They can be used as |
| filled with the mouth, manual or electric inflator. | | | | alternatives to fire works. |
| Balloons filled with air hold their size and shape longer | | | | Flying Machines |
| when compared to helium filled balloons. To reduce | | | | Since the 18 th century large balloons filled with hot |
| helium leakage (to increase float time to a week or | | | | air or helium were used as flying machines. The |
| longer) the interior of the balloons should be treated | | | | earliest flights used helium which was heated with a |
| with a polymer solution. | | | | flame. |
| Foil balloons have attractive, shiny, reflective surfaces | | | | Balloons in medicine |
| printed with colour pictures for gifts and parties. | | | | A surgical procedure in which very small balloons are |
| | | | inserted into blocked or partially blocked blood |
| Balloons and its hazards: | | | | vessels near the heart is called angioplasty. Catheters |
| | | | that have balloons at their tip to keep them from |
| • Foil balloons pose environmental hazards since | | | | slipping out are called balloon catheters. When the |
| the nylon used is not biodegradable. Power outages | | | | catheter is inserted into the urinary bladder and |
| are caused because released foil balloons get | | | | secures its position the balloon of a Foley catheter is |
| entangled in power lines. | | | | inflated. |
| • Released balloons pose a serious hazard to | | | | |