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If 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.


The article talks about how hard it is to contain helium.

Why would you assume that a basic metal foil would keep helium indefinitely?


It'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).


...so, uh, any idea why balloons suck?

I assume it would be way more expensive but if it lasted for decades or more...


I 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




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