What Is Vicat?
Vicat softening temperature test is the test in which the temperature at which a straight-tipped needle, whose cross-sectional area is defined in the standard, sinks 1 mm into the sample under a certain load is determined at a constant heating rate.
Purpose of Vicat
The aim is to comparatively determine the softening behavior of thermoplastic and to check batch consistency.
Which Products Is Vicat Applied To?
- Thermoplastic raw material and granules
- Pipe and profile materials
- electrical insulation parts
- Ambalaj plastikleri
In Which Sectors Is Vicat Used?
Standards Related to Vicat
- ISO 306
- ASTM D1525
Vicat Conditions
- Load
- Method defined in the standard: combinations such as A50 (10 N) or B50 (50 N)
- Heating rate
- 50 °C/hour or 120 °C/hour (defined in the method)
- sinking criterion
- 1 mm penetration of the needle
- Specimen
- Thickness and surface smoothness defined in the standard
Equipment for Vicat
- Vicat/HDT tester
- Calibrated needle and load set
- Heating bath and temperature recording
- Specimen-preparation bench
Sample Requirements for Vicat
- Sample thickness must be within the range defined in the standard
- The surface must be flat and parallel
- Method (load and heating rate) must be defined in the specification
- The sample must be conditioned
Duration of Vicat
Typically 2–3 days.
Vicat Procedure
- 1Samples are prepared and conditioned.
- 2The method (load and speed) is selected.
- 3The needle is placed on the sample surface and load is applied.
- 4The bath is heated at a defined rate.
- 5The temperature at 1 mm penetration is recorded.
- 6The result is reported by specifying the method.
Vicat Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criterion is the Vicat temperature range given in the material standard or specification.
Evaluation of Results
The Vicat value given without specifying the load and heating rate combination cannot be compared. Vicat and HDT are different tests and cannot be used interchangeably.
Vicat Report
- Standard and method applied
- Load and heating rate
- Sample dimensions
- Measured Vicat temperatures
- Conditioning conditions
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- Material product standards
Plastics Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Vicat test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Plastics testing determines the mechanical, thermal and burning behaviour of a polymer material. Unlike metals, plastics are VISCOELASTIC: their behaviour depends on loading rate, temperature and moisture. The same material therefore gives different results under different conditions, and the test conditions are an inseparable part of the result.
The practical consequence of viscoelasticity is this: a plastic part continues to deform over time under a constant load (creep) and the stress it carries at constant deformation falls over time (stress relaxation). A screwed joint loosens, a clamp loses its clamping force, a shelf sags over time. A short-term tensile test does not show this behaviour; a long-term test or an accelerated model is needed.
Thermal behaviour is the second main axis. Melt flow rate indicates the processability of the material and lot-to-lot consistency; heat deflection temperature and the Vicat softening point give a rough limit for service temperature. Thermal analysis (DSC, TGA, DMA) reveals the identity of the material: glass transition temperature, melting behaviour, crystallinity, filler content and decomposition temperature.
Burning behaviour is the third axis and ties directly into product standards. The UL 94 class and the limiting oxygen index are written into the material data sheet; a particular class is required for the housing of an electrical appliance, while a different classification system applies to a construction product.
Ageing is the most frequently skipped part of the field. Plastics degrade under UV, heat, moisture and oxygen: colour changes, the surface cracks, impact strength falls. For a part intended for outdoor use, what matters is not its values on day one but its values after ageing. Xenon arc and fluorescent UV equipment accelerate this degradation and allow comparison.
The output of this family is usually written into the material data sheet, and product standards refer to that sheet. But there can be a difference between the data sheet value and the behaviour of the actual part: orientation formed during moulding, weld lines and internal stresses make the part behave differently from the specimen.
The use of recycled content has added a new question to the field. Recycled resin varies from lot to lot; mechanical properties, colour and burning behaviour can shift between batches. For a manufacturer using recycled material, incoming material control is therefore not a choice but a necessity.
Method groups in this field
Mechanical
Tension, compression, bending, Charpy and Izod impact, hardness (Shore), creep and environmental stress cracking.
Thermal
Melt flow index (MFI), heat deflection temperature (HDT), Vicat softening temperature, linear thermal expansion.
Thermal analysis
Transition temperatures and crystallinity by DSC, composition and decomposition by TGA, dynamic mechanical behaviour by DMA.
Burning
UL 94 classification, limiting oxygen index (LOI), glow wire and needle flame tests.
Ageing
Accelerated ageing by xenon arc and fluorescent UV, hot air ageing, humidity and condensation.
Physical
Density, water absorption, ash content, gas and water vapour permeability of films and sheets.
Commonly confused in this field
- A plastics result without a stated test rate and temperature cannot be interpreted; viscoelastic behaviour depends on these parameters.
- A specimen result does not transfer directly to the actual part; moulding orientation and weld lines are decisive.
- HDT and Vicat values are NOT service temperatures; they are a rough indication of an upper limit and do not apply under load.
- The UL 94 class depends on thickness; a different wall thickness requires re-verification.
- For moisture-absorbing polymers (such as polyamide), results are misleading unless conditioning is carried out.
- ASTM D638 and ISO 527 results are not directly equivalent; the specimen geometries and rate definitions differ.
Which decisions these results support
- Material selection and supplier approval
- Meeting the flammability and thermal requirements of the product standard
- Verifying the use of recycled content and lot control
- Moulding process control and lot consistency
- Demonstrating ageing resistance for outdoor use
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Vicat
According to which standard is Vicat made?
Vicat is executed in scope ISO 306 and ASTM D1525. The limit values and acceptance criteria to be applied are defined in the product standard; The version valid for your product is confirmed in writing at the offer stage.
Which products does Vicat apply to?
Mainly applied to Thermoplastic raw material and granules, Pipe and profile materials, electrical insulation parts and Ambalaj plastikleri. Whether your product is included in the scope is determined by examining its technical specifications and intended use.
Under what conditions is Vicat done?
The determining parameters are: Load — Method defined in the standard: combinations such as A50 (10 N) or B50 (50 N), Heating rate — 50 °C/hour or 120 °C/hour (defined in the method) and sinking criterion — 1 mm penetration of the needle. The full terms are in the "Test Conditions" section on the page and vary depending on the product standard.
What kind of sample is needed for Vicat?
Sample thickness must be within the range defined in the standard, The surface must be flat and parallel and Method (load and heating rate) must be defined in the specification. The number of samples is determined according to the product standard and the scope to be reported.
How long does Vicat take?
Typically 2–3 days. This duration belongs to the experiment itself; sample preparation, queuing and reporting are also evaluated. A realistic schedule for your product is given in the offer.
What is the Vicat result called "appropriate"?
The acceptance criterion is the Vicat temperature range given in the material standard or specification.