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