Surface treatment process for glass containers

A surface treatment process for a silica-based glass container which comprises exchangeable metal ions of at least one of sodium (Na+) and calcium (Ca2+), the surface treatment process including:

• contacting at least a portion of the glass container with an aqueous electrolyte solution having a temperature between 70 degrees Celsius and 100 degrees Celsius and comprising group IA alkali metal ions having ionic radii larger than that of sodium (Na+) or calcium (Ca2+);
• and
• maintaining contact between the glass container and the aqueous electrolyte solution for a time sufficient to exchange at least a portion of the exchangeable metal ions in the silica-based glass container with at least a portion of the group IA alkali metal ions in the aqueous electrolyte solution.