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A Toy balloon is a hollow container which is often made of plastic or natural, biodegradable rubber.
Rubber balloons
Natural Rubber, also known as latex, is a highly flexible substance which is extracted from certain plants. Latex balloons contain small amounts of nitrosamines, but the amount which they release is non-hazardous. Nitrosamine is used as a solvent when processing latex. There are methods of reducing the amount of Nitrosamine in the finished product, but these methods are expensive.
Foil balloons
Inflatable foil balloons are made from plastics, such as aluminized PET film. Foil balloons are not elastic like rubber balloons, so that detailed and colorful pictures printed on their surfaces are not distorted when the balloon is inflated. Foil balloons are thus named because they sometimes have a metallic coating to make them shiny, however there have been concerns about metallic balloons causing short circuits when caught in overhead power lines.
Filling
Every toy balloon has an opening through which gases are blown into it. Balloons are usually filled by using one's breath, a pump, or a pressurized gas tank. The opening can then be tied off or clamped. Foil balloons are typically self-sealing. By filling a balloon with a gas lighter than air, such as helium, the balloon can be made to float. Helium is the preferred gas for floating balloons, because it is inert and will not catch fire (like hydrogen) or cause toxic effects when inhaled. Small, light objects (postcards, in balloon mail for example) are sometimes placed in balloons along with helium and released into the air and, when the balloon eventually falls, the object inside might be found by another person. Rubber balloons can also be filled with liquids (usually water) and can burst when they impact a solid object. Liquid-filled balloons are commonly referred to as "water balloons" or "water bombs" and used in playful fights, and sometimes vandalism.
Form
Most toy balloons are a simple oval-like shape. Other balloons are longer and more cylindrical. Long balloons are often twisted and bent into simple, or intricate shapes which will hold their form when released. Balloon artists are people who quickly twist balloons into familiar or abstract shapes using the techniques of balloon modelling, usually for profit. Toy balloons are used as decorations and/or advertising space. Balloons are usually purchased in deflated form, however some party stores and vendors at special events will fill their balloons before selling them.
While toy balloons are primarily a toy, they are also sometimes used for demonstrations in classrooms.
See also
"Toy balloon"