The article deals with the principles of design of thermo-chemical treatment of the surface of glass containers by gaseous reagents. It also focuses on the regimes of the modification of the surface of the containers by gases. Gaseous reagents such as fluorineand chlorine-containing gases and gas mixtures are used in the capacity of acid gases. In industrial conditions the treatment of glass containers with fluoride- and chlorine-containing reagents improves their chemical resistance by 1-2 orders, while the mechanical strength of glass increases by 30 %, thermal stability and microhardness - by 15 %. . The article analyses the advantages and disadvantages of this technology.