Ford BN 108-02 Wear Resistance - Taber Abrasive

The standard “Ford BN 108-02 Abrasion resistance - Taber abrasive,” developed by Ford Motor Company (Ford), describes a procedure for testing the abrasion resistance of textile fabrics, coated fabrics, genuine leather, cardboard, rubber mats, carpets, other floor covering materials, plastics and painted surfaces.

In the automotive industry, where interior components are subjected to daily wear and tear from passengers, cargo, and environmental factors, ensuring material durability is crucial for safety, aesthetics, and customer satisfaction. To standardize quality assurance for vehicle production, Ford Motor Company has developed a series of standards. Among these, Ford BN 108-02 stands out as a critical protocol for assessing the resistance of interior surfaces to abrasion. The methodology presented in this standard utilizes a rotating platform device, the Taber abrader, to simulate real-world wear scenarios.

The Ford BN 108-02 standard helps suppliers and internal teams verify that materials meet performance thresholds, reduce defects, and extend vehicle life. This standard focuses specifically on interior trim and soft goods. It addresses the limitations of older tests by providing quantifiable data on surface wear, making it essential for modern, lightweight composites and synthetics, which are increasingly being used in electric vehicles to reduce weight and improve efficiency.

The Ford BN 108-02 standard was designed specifically for automotive interior components, targeting materials that must withstand prolonged human interaction. It applies to both flexible and rigid surfaces and focuses on surface integrity rather than volumetric strength.

The key elements of the scope are:

• Materials covered: Textile fabrics, coated fabrics, genuine leather, plastics, painted surfaces, tapes, all-weather mats, carpets and other floor covering materials.
• Test focus: Measuring wear through mass loss, visual degradation or exposure of underlying layers after controlled cycles.
• Exclusions: Not suitable for high impact erosion (e.g. gravel roads), in such cases Ford resorts to methods such as the BN 108-13 standard for scratch resistance.

This broad applicability supports a variety of applications, from luxury leather seating to durable vinyl in commercial vans. When feet drag on floor mats, seat belts rub against upholstery, or hands grip door panels, poor abrasion resistance leads to visible damage such as pilling, cracking, or loss of texture, impacting not only aesthetics but also safety.

This method can be applied to a wide variety of materials:

• Textiles and fabrics: Upholstery, headliners and cargo covers.
• Coated surfaces: Painted or laminated plastics, leather and vinyl.
• Floor coverings: Carpets, mats and molded rubber composites.
• Other upholstery: Leather, belts, and weather-exposed elements.

The Ford BN 108-02 standard uses a Taber rotary abrasive, a fundamental tool in tribology testing. This method simulates rotational friction under load, providing wear rate data that informs material formulations and surface treatments. Samples are prepared as 100 mm diameter discs or panels that are conditioned for 24 hours at 23 degrees Celsius and 50 percent relative humidity. A backing material, such as felt or cork, prevents the substrate from becoming entangled.

While the exact cycle counts vary by material, the general steps are consistent with industry norms:

• Initial evaluation: Elementary mass (up to 0,1 mg), thickness and appearance (e.g. gloss with ASTM D523 standard) are measured.
• Subject to abrasion: The sample is fixed to a turntable. Weighted wheels are attached and run at the specified speeds (e.g., 500–5.000 cycles for textiles, up to 10.000 for leather). A vacuum hood removes debris to prevent secondary abrasion.
• Intermediate checks: Stop at intervals (e.g. every 1.000 cycles) to check for pilling, discoloration or cracking.
• Endpoint: Stop when the cycle target, mass loss threshold (e.g., less than 5 percent for passing plastics) or visible failure, such as substrate exposure, is reached.
• Assessment: Wear is measured and graded using Ford's qualitative scale (e.g. 1-5 for surface integrity) or quantitative metrics such as the wear index
• Lower values ​​indicate superior resistance.

As a result, the Ford FLTM BN 108-02 standard standard standardizes wear assessment across a variety of materials, supporting material development while maintaining Ford's reputation for reliability. This methodology is evolving as electric vehicles demand lighter, more durable cabins. In the high-stakes world of automotive design, the Ford BN 108-02 standard is not just a test method; it's a benchmark for durability.

Our organization, which has been operating for many years and meticulously follows global developments in science and technology, employs a team of experienced professionals and a broad infrastructure to conduct testing, measurement, and analysis in a wide range of areas for businesses across all sectors. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the Ford BN 108-02 Abrasion Resistance - Taber Abrasive standard.