Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterise the microstructure of a phase-separated soda lime silicate glass in which sodium was partially substituted by silver during the ion exchange process. To transform the dopant ions into nanosized particles of colloidal silver, high-temperature annealing (in air and hydrogen) and irradiation (gamma-rays from a Co-60 source) were used. It has been stated that both treatments affect not only the dopant ions but also the morphology of the matrix. A variety of the induced changes could be exploited for new applications of multicomponent soda lime silicate glasses. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.