Ford FLTM BN 107-01 Friction Test

The “Ford FLTM BN 107-01 Friction Test” standard, developed by Ford Motor Company (Ford), describes a test method used in automotive material validation to evaluate friction resistance (color transfer due to friction) in interior upholstery materials such as textiles, synthetic leather, coated fabrics, and plastics. This method is widely used in automotive interior improvement studies to ensure that painted or coated surfaces do not transfer color to clothing, skin, or adjacent components during normal use.

Friction testing is a standard laboratory method used to measure how easily the color of a material transfers to another surface through friction. It is primarily used for textiles, leather, coated fabrics, plastics, and automotive interior materials. Simply put, with friction testing, one checks whether a colored surface will "transfer" onto something else, such as clothing or skin, through friction.

This test works by rubbing a white standard cloth (rubbing cloth) against a colored sample under controlled conditions. Any dyes or pigments that transfer to the white cloth are then evaluated. This method simulates the following real-life contacts:

• Sitting in a painted car seat while wearing light-colored clothes.
• Rubbing hands on the steering wheel
• The contact between interior elements and fabrics.

The primary purpose of the Ford FLTM BN 107-01 standard is to measure color fastness under friction conditions. This standard helps determine:

• How much paint is transferred when the material is rubbed
• Durability of surface color under mechanical abrasion.
• Suitability of materials for automotive interior applications.

This is especially important for:

• Upholstery fabrics
• Door trims
• Armrests
• Steering wheel covers
• Artificial leather and coated textiles

The friction test simulates real-life frictional contact, including the following:

• A colored test sample (interior upholstery material)
• A standardized white test cloth (rubbing cloth)

Next, the amount of visible staining on the white cloth is assessed.

This test method typically evaluates two main conditions:

• Dry rubbing
• Wet rubbing

This reflects the following different real-world scenarios:

• Dry clothing contact
• Moisture caused by sweat or humidity.

This testing method generally follows these steps:

• Sample preparation: The material is cut into standard test specimens. Then it is mounted on a test platform.
• Friction process: A standardized friction cloth is rubbed across the surface. Controlled pressure and number of cycles are applied during this process.
• Wet/dry assessment: The test is performed under dry and sometimes wet conditions.
• Assessment: Staining on white fabric is compared using a grayscale grading system. The degree of color transfer is recorded.

Results are generally evaluated using the following methods:

• Gray scale for staining (visual comparison standard)
• Sometimes instrumental color measurement (the relevant method is described in the FLTM BN 107-02 standard)

Lower staining indicates better performance.

This belongs to the family of standard friction-related methods:

• Ford FLTM BN 107-02: Instrumental evaluation of friction.
• AATCC 8: Textile friction test (industry equivalent standard)
• ISO 105-X12: International standard for color fastness to friction.

Ford uses the Ford FLTM BN 107-01 standard to ensure that interior materials meet the following requirements:

• Not to stain passenger clothes
• Maintaining its appearance over time
• It meets durability expectations for real-world use.
• Avoid warranty issues caused by paint transfer or fading.

The Ford FLTM BN 107-01 standard is important because it controls one of the most visible and customer-sensitive quality risks in automotive interiors: color transfer (friction). If interior materials are not properly tested, paints or pigments can transfer to clothing, skin, or adjacent surfaces. Even small amounts of staining can instantly lead to customer complaints, warranty claims, and perceptions of poor manufacturing quality. The key reasons why this standard is considered important are:

• Direct impact on customer perception: Interior staining is quite noticeable. A seat or armrest that is bleeding color, even if everything else is technically fine, makes the whole car look low-quality.
• Real-world wear simulation: The test mimics everyday use, including slipping on seats, friction from clothing, and contact under dry or sweaty conditions. Without this standard, materials might pass manufacturing controls but fail in real-world situations.
• Supplier qualification and consistency: By using this standard, Ford ensures that all suppliers (globally including fabric suppliers, leather and synthetic leather manufacturers, interior trim component manufacturers, etc.) meet the same minimum durability requirements. This prevents discrepancies between batches, factories, or regions.
• Protection against warranty and durability issues: Color transfer problems often appear after weeks or months of use. Pre-testing reduces costly warranty repairs and replacements.
• Material development control: Helps engineers objectively compare fabrics, coatings, dyes, and finishes during development, ensuring only stable materials are approved.
• Consistency in the global supply chain: Ensures all suppliers meet the same performance expectations, regardless of country or manufacturer. This way, Ford prevents a simple but serious defect – color bleeding from interior surfaces – from reaching customers, thus preserving both the perception of vehicle quality and long-term durability.

In conclusion, the Ford FLTM BN 107-01 standard is a friction (color transfer) resistance test standard used to evaluate how much paint or pigment is transferred from automotive interior materials under friction conditions. This standard is essential for ensuring interior durability, aesthetic quality, and customer satisfaction in Ford vehicles.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its customers, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services to businesses in accordance with the Ford FLTM BN 107-01 standard.