17 ms·
...I didn't really we had the technology to seal helium at all. Stupid question, but could you potentially create a helium balloon that never runs out of heliu
by Wowfunhappy 2y ago
...I didn't really we had the technology to seal helium at all.
Stupid question, but could you potentially create a helium balloon that never runs out of helium (because it's sealed and doesn't leak)?
- ahartmetz 2y agoIf it's made of metal foil, probably. Much more diffusion-resistant than rubber. The problem with rubber balloons isn't that they have macro- or mesoscopic holes. They lose gas by diffusion all over.
- ejdhshsuwisjsh 2y agoThe article talks about how hard it is to contain helium. Why would you assume that a basic metal foil would keep helium indefinitely?
- ahartmetz 2y agoIt's right there in the article: it mentions welding of aluminum foil seals - for helium. I have also worked with high vacuum in lab exercises. There's a leak finder apparatus using helium because helium creeps through the smallest leaks - but they have to be leaks! Hydrogen just diffuses through anyway, though not quickly through thick metal (I have that from Wikipedia).
- ejdhshsuwisjsh 2y agoI have to read up on this. I have seen a YT on someone doing this in a lab env but I always assumed that you can't contain it indefinitely
- Wowfunhappy 2y ago...so, uh, any idea why balloons suck? I assume it would be way more expensive but if it lasted for decades or more...