Polyethylene articles with improved resistance to water vapor transmission

This invention relates generally to films and containers made from high density polyethylene. More specifically this invention is directed toward films and containers having low water vapor transmission rates, while maintaining better physical properties than films or containers fabricated with materials having similar water vapor transmission rates. Films, containers made of high density polyethylene, and articles made therefrom exhibit, for a given density, improved resistance to water vapor transmission. The high density polyethylenes are produced in a metallocene-catalyzed production process. Alternatively, for equivalent water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) an article formed in accordance with the invention will exhibit improved physical properties, such as dart drop impact, more balanced tear properties and improved machine direction (MD) tear properties. Additionally, these high density polyethylenes show a low level of extractables and an excellent organoleptic profile.