The composition and the structure of the glass surface layers determine such important operating properties as chemical durability, mechanical strength, thermo stability, micro hardness.

This paper contains the generalized results of the regular analysis made of the structure of surface layers of colorless glass for containers.

The objects of investigation were jars and bottles of different capacity from colorless glass. Experimental procedures are the following: samples with sizes of 4´5 cm were cut from the glassware; the analysis of surface layers of glass was made with the help of section etching with a solution of HF; the thickness of the dissolved layer during one etching changes from 0.05 up to 10 µm. The analysis of samples takes place up to the depth of 100 µm. The section etching was supplemented with light microscopy and determination of micro hardness.

The analyses of data showed that the container glass has a stratified structure. The stratification character of glassware depends on the glass homogeneity, on the method and the conditions of its manufacture.