Latex Balloon Degradation in Freshwater, Saltwater, and Compost Over 16 Weeks

A 16-week study quantified the degradation of latex balloons in saltwater, freshwater, and industrial compost environments. Bi-weekly measurements tracked changes in mass, ultimate tensile strength, and surficial composition via ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The data, hosted by the Australian Ocean Data Network, compares two balloon colors and packaging labeled as 'biodegradable' versus 'traditional'.

Use Cases

• Modeling degradation rates of latex materials based on mass loss measurements over time
• Comparing material strength loss between different environmental treatments based on ultimate tensile strength data
• Analyzing chemical composition changes via ATR-FTIR spectra across balloon types and colors
• Assessing the validity of 'biodegradable' labeling for consumer products based on controlled environmental testing

Strengths

• Study design includes a 16-week time series with bi-weekly measurements
• Multiple quantitative degradation metrics: mass, tensile strength, and ATR-FTIR spectra
• Experimental controls include untreated 'new' and 'inflated' balloon samples
• Tests two independent variables: balloon color (blue/white) and packaging label (biodegradable/traditional)

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data_gov_au

Collection Method

Experimental study with bi-weekly measurements over 16 weeks

Time Range

Study period covers 16 weeks

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-16 02:50:16.703584; freshness should be verified