Plastics are stars of show in Thanksgiving parade

To mark Thanksgiving in the US today, a parade of giant branded and novelty balloons depicting some of the world’s most recognisable cartoon characters, film stars and toys, will take to the streets of New York City. 

The real star of the show, however, is plastic, as the balloons are made from polyurethane-coated fabric. According to the American Chemical Council, polyurethane keeps the (average) 12,000 cubic feet of helium sealed tightly in the balloon.

The balloons' dimensions vary, but most are about five to six stories high and somewhere around 18.2m long and 9.1m wide. The polyurethane-coated fabric is lightweight enough to make the balloons manageable by their handlers, with a reported 50-90 people required for each balloon, depending on the size. 

The use of polyurethane, which is flexible and easily colourable, means the balloons are true to the colours of the characters which they represent. 

^{*Information courtesy of ACC}