Abstract: A molded plastic container having one or more of its surfaces modified by contacting those surfaces with a reactive gas atmosphere containing fluorine, chlorine, oxygen, ozone, sulfur trioxide, peroxide, oxidative acids, or mixtures thereof to increase the surface energy of those one or more surfaces to at least 40 dynes/cm to enhance the adhesion of coatings to those surfaces, a fire-resistant intumescent or ceramic microsphere coating adhered to said modified surfaces to improve the longevity and integrity of the container when exposed to the heat of a fire, and optionally, a barrier coating adhered under said modified surfaces to reduce permeation of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and organic fluids through the container walls; and a method for producing such a molded plastic container comprising modifying at least one surface of the container with a halogenated gas atmosphere to increase the surface energy of that surface, optionally coating said modified surface with a permeation barrier layer, and subsequently

Abstract: A method for forming plastic packaging products (containers, tanks, etc.) that have a surface which has been subjected to a reactive gas atmosphere containing F2, Cl2, O2, O3, or SO3, oxidative acids, or mixtures thereof, at a temperature and gas partial pressure sufficient to increase the surface energy to at least 40 dynes/cm in order to provide adhesion of the barrier coating, or molding the container in plastic resin that was first surface modified by one of the preceding processes and molded under conditions such that a surface is developed on the container that has a minimum of 40 dynes/cm and which will adhere well to coatings. A barrier coating is then applied. The barrier coating may be of various polymers and blends, all meeting the critical requirements that the coating must adhere tenaciously to the surface, must have good barrier properties for the molecules which are to be contained, and must not diminish the impact resistance of the material to which it is applied.