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What is the envelope of a hot air balloon made of?

Hot air balloon enevelope

Hot air balloon enevelope

The Envelope is constructed from various gores, formed by the load tapes, made of nylon or polyester. Attached to the load tapes, there are the steel cords that are later attached to the gondola and the burner. The space between each load tape, i.e. each gore, is divided in panels made of strong, lightweight synthetic fabric that is coated to make it airtight and protect it against UV rays. There are several fabrics involved in the manufacturing of a balloon;the bottom part of the envelope, the nearest to the burner flame, is made from a material called nomex , which is a flame resistant material used in other industries such as car driver´s suits  and also in the firefighters apparel. The rest of the envelope is made of rip-stop, a tear resistant fabric that is able to withstand temperatures above 100 ºC needed to raise the balloon.The material used nearer the top of the envelope is known as hyperlast. What makes hyperlast desirable to use, according to the manufacturers, is its strength and less porosity, which reduces the fuel consumption and and extends the life of the balloon.

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