Describes four methods for the determination of the Vicat softening temperature (VST) of thermoplastic materials: - method A50 using a force of 10 N and a heating rate of 50 K/h; - method B50 using a force of 50 N and a heating rate of 50 K/h; - method A120 using a force of 10 N and a heating rate of 120 K/h; - method B120 using a force of 50 N and a heating rate of 120 K/h.