Luftballons

Luftballons are flexible containers designed to float in the air when filled with a light gas, typically air, helium, or hydrogen. They are usually small, decorative balloons used for celebrations, parties, or advertising, as well as larger variants used for scientific or weather-related purposes. In everyday language, the singular is Luftballon and the plural Luftballons.

Most commercially available Luftballons are made from latex or foil (Mylar). Latex balloons are common for party use and are biodegradable under certain conditions, though their decomposition is slow and dependent on environmental factors. Foil balloons are more air- and gas-tight and hold helium or air longer, but are not biodegradable. Balloons may be inflated with air for non-buoyant uses or with helium or hydrogen when lift is desired.

The modern rubber latex Luftballon was popularized after the early experiments of the 19th century, with Michael Faraday often credited for creating the first rubber balloons in 1824 for gas experiments. Over the 20th century, mass production and the availability of foil balloons expanded their use from laboratory tools to mass-market decorations and promotional items. Weather balloons, much larger and made to withstand atmospheric conditions, represent a different class of buoyant Luftballons used for transmitting meteorological data.

Cultural references include the song 99 Luftballons, which brought international attention to the term. Environmental and safety concerns accompany their use: latex allergies, choking hazards for children, and the risk to wildlife from balloon fragments and loss of deflated products. Many regions discourage or regulate balloon releases to mitigate these issues.