Plastic container having a carbon-treated internal surface

A blow molded container for holding contents having barrier properties, said container including an upper wall portion having an opening, a sidewall portion positioned beneath the upper wall portion, and a base portion positioned beneath the sidewall portion which supports the container, said container further comprising;

• a molded outer layer having an inner surface, said outer layer having a thickness of from 6 to 23 mils;
• an innermost, non-structural amorphous carbon coating formed on the entire inner surface of the outer layer and adhered thereto, wherein said carbon coating has a thickness from about 0.05 to 10 microns and wherein the thickness of the carbon coating controllably varies along the inner surface of the outer layer, wherein the thickness of the inner carbon layer is independently, controllably varied with respect to the outer layer, and wherein the container is supported by the base which is a freestanding integrally formed base.