How Latex Balloons are Made

Latex Manufacturing Process

1. All latex balloons are made using a balloon "form" that is first washed with high-pressure hot water.
2. The form then goes into a preheated oven to heat forms.
3. The form is then dipped into calcium nitrate to put a coating on the form to help with the stripping process. This is the white powder found on the inside of latex balloons.
4. Then the form is dried in an oven, and once dried, it is then dipped into latex.
5. The form then runs through the rolling station to roll up the neck.
6. Each form goes into a leach tank of hot water to remove residuals of calcium nitrate and give the balloon a pre-cure.
7. The form is then cured in an oven to complete vulcanization* occurs to give the balloon its physical properties.
8. The form is then dipped into a slurry which coats the external part of the balloon with anti-tack material to prevent the balloons from sticking together and to assist in the stripping of the balloon.
9. The balloon is then stripped off the form and placed into a tumbler machine where they are sprayed with a cleaning solution.
10.  Now the manufacturing process is done and latex is ready to be packaged and sold.

*Vulcanization is a chemical process in which the rubber is heated with sulfur, accelerator, and activator at 140–160°C.

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©05.17.22J