Facts and Fiction

the truth about balloons...

Fiction 
"A Balloon is just a balloon!"
Contrary to popular believe all balloons are not the same. Unlike most other balloons generally available in the market, Sempertex balloons contains no fillers, substitutes or plasticizers but are made of pure natural rubber latex.

Fact 
"All quality balloons are made from 100% latex!"
It is often claimed by various balloon retailers that their balloons are made of a 100% latex. Unfortunately this is not always true.

Fact
"Inhaling helium is dangerous"
By inhaling helium you automatically replace the oxygen in your system. With each inhalation you decrease the available oxygen in your system. Helium actually speeds up this process and will cause your oxygen levels to plummet rapidly. This in turn can lead to dizziness and blackouts. Even though this is not necessarily lethal one has to consider the effect this has on your brain. An inebriated person will have an increased risk of danger as their systems are already compromised and contending with an outside influence. 
It is especially dangerous when inhaling directly from a high pressure tank. By doing this you not only run the risk of severe damage to your lungs but can also cause stroke like symptoms and even death.
There are a few documented cases available of people who lost consciousness and even though very rare there are also documented cases of death caused by the inhalation of pure helium.

Fact 
"Buying quality balloons protects the rainforests"
Latex is harvested from the Hevea Brasilliensis tree, often referred to as the Rubber tree and grows in the rain forests. Latex can only be harvested from living trees which means that in effect it discourages deforestation. The Hevea tree can produce latex for up to 40 years.

Fact 
"All quality balloons are biodegradable"
Balloons such as Sempertex that are made of pure latex and does not contain any plasticizers or fillers are bio-degradable, and will degrade more or a less at the same tempo as a leaf.

fact: our products are "green"

How long can I expect my balloons to fly?
The average flying time of a good quality 11” balloon such a Sempertex will be between 18-24 hours. From my personal experience I can even confirm 24+ hours. On the other hand a balloon of lesser quality will only fly for an average of 8 hours maximum. The larger the balloons the longer the flight time for example a 16” balloon will fly for 30+ hours and a 3’ balloon for approximately 5 days. One can also extend the flying time of balloons significantly by using a product such a HI-FLOAT.

Why do balloons go down after a while?
Helium is lighter than air and escapes rapidly. Balloons are porous and unable to lock the helium in. The only way to slow this process down is by coating the balloon with HI-FLOAT. 
HI-FLOAT is an aqueous solution containing a special water soluble plastic. It dries inside the latex balloon to form a barrier coating which helps hold in helium. This coating greatly increases the floating life of the balloon.

Can balloons be dangerous?
Balloons like all small objects can be a choking hazard, especially pieces of a burst balloon. It is strongly recommended never to leave children under the age of 7 unattended when playing with balloons. It is also recommended that you immediately discard of a burst balloon along with all its broken pieces.

What happens to a balloon when released into the air?
Once a balloon is released it will reach an approximate altitude of about 5 miles. At this point the differential between the gas pressure inside the balloon and the near vacuum outside the balloon will cause it to expand to the point where it will burst. Because of the extreme low temperatures at that altitude the balloon will be frozen and will shred into tiny spaghetti-like pieces and fall back down to the ground. If the balloon was made of 100% pure latex it will decay naturally.

Why foil balloons should NEVER be released outdoors
Foil balloons contain aluminium and is therefore not bio-degradable. Because of the metal content they will conduct electricity which can cause power failures if they get entangled in power lines. 
Always ensure that your foil balloons are securely tied to a balloon weight.