How to Freeze a Balloon Forever? (Inflated)

[Luis Roman]

Hi everyone, Glad to be here and I come bearing a tough Question.

How can I Capture/Freeze a Balloon in it's inflated state forever?

I would love to coat it with something clear, that would make the latex retain the inflated shape after I let the air out.

If not clear, even a Ceramic would be cool, then I would paint it back to the balloon original color (or any other design.)

I have thoughts I will try. Hairspray or some sort of glue for clear.

Paper Mache for non-clear and then paint it like a balloon. I don;t have much crafting experience besides things I learned back in school 15 years ago or so. Thanks so your help.

[Selnith]

i'd say papier mache is probably the best bet, just using glue or whatever is unlikely to be strong enough
or plaster bandages would work, either one can be smoothed to a nice finish so long as you work with it while it's still wet

[World.Of.Hoard-Craft]

Glassblowers, or glass artists, can create something that would look like a baloon, only it would be glass.
I am not a glassblower, so I can't tell you how to do it, but basically they take a ball of hotglàs at the end of a reallly long straw and blow air into the glass so it expànds. It like the old 'fun bubble" sets you used to be able to buy inthe 1980s

[Yizzimindi]

If you pull the knot in the balloon REALLY tight, it keeps that shape for months. I have 2 foil helium balloons that I got for my birthday 9 months ago. They don't float any more, but they are still only a little bit flat. If you want to use paper mache I suggest using a really soft paper, or using well soaked newspaper in short peices so there are no creases, and covering it with tissue paper then a layer of glue to give it a nice very smooth surface. A balloon is made of something similar to latex so would not hold its shape. If you don't mind having a balloon that is a bit smaller, you could fill it up with cold water and dip it in wax until the wax is thick enough not to break without the support of the balloon. The water stops the heat from the melted wax from popping or melting the balloon.

[Blacksmith]

Fill the balloon with a heavier gas, argon would be my first thought. Wouldn't exchange as easily as helium or air. The micropores in the latex are what allow the helium or air to escape.

Now to close up those pores you have the right idea, spray paint, acrylic, etc. A latex won't do it.

[blackabbey]

I don't know if this is relevant to what you want to achieve, but I have experiemented in the past with hot glue on balloons. Sounds a bit silly, but if you put the glue on an inflated balloon from a bit of a distance (about 20-30cm away, so it is not too hot when making contact) you can make cool squiggly lines, or even a design/picture if you have the patience. If you ensure the gaps are no bigger than 2-3cm between any two lines of glue, the balloon will retain its shape even after it is punctured. I did do this with helium quality balloons (the latex ones, not the foil ones) as I think it may need the thickness.

If there is a design on a balloon you want to keep viewable then plain/clear glue is perfect. For something a little more creative, coloured and glitter glues are ideal

Once again, not sure if this is what you are after, but it is a fun project to try anyway.

[Listessa]

Maybe a good coat of modge podge?   I have no idea if you could get the balloon out of it after applying that stuff. 

You might be able to get away with spreading clear 100% silicone over the surface.  It would be difficult to get a totally even coating, and it would most likely dry slightly opaque rather than clear, due to the nature of the silicone itself.  I bet that would look awesome though.

[steiconi]

maybe fiberglass would work.  You need something that will be rigid, so when the balloon deflates, it doesn't take the covering with it.

[edelC]

I kinda think that you need to fill the inside, rather than the outside, with a resin, or plaster of paris..but even then, long term...hmm. I am not so sure if it would last...