Ken Niece

Title: Ken Niece and Calcite-Core Detergent Technology.

Introduction

Ken Niece is an inventor associated with West Hill, California, and Witco Corporation. His patent work addresses overbased calcium sulfonate detergents for engine oils, with a focus on stable calcite-core micelles, low haze, and anti-wear performance.

Latest Patents

The supplied information identifies one patent for Niece: “Oil Soluble Calcite Overbased Detergents and Engine Oils Containing Same.” The invention describes an engine oil containing a lubricating oil and an overbased calcium sulfonate detergent that disperses calcite-core micelles. The formulation is designed to provide commercial haze-free properties, with a Hazitron test value below about 30 and, more particularly, below about 15 to 10, alongside a 4-Ball wear-test scar diameter below 0.4 mm.

The detergent is described as having a total base number (TBN) of 100 to 400 while maintaining a viscosity no greater than 100,000 centipoise at 25°C, typically around 20,000 to 30,000 centipoise. The patent also describes a production method that converts an overbased amorphous calcium sulfonate into a stable calcite-core micellar dispersion. The process uses a short-chain carboxylic acid or salt, a short-chain alkanol, and water in a hydrocarbon solvent or oil under controlled temperatures. The resulting calcite overbased sulfonate is substantially free of amorphous, vaterite, and aragonite forms of calcium carbonate. Niece is credited with 1 patent in the information provided.

Career Highlights

Niece’s listed patent work is connected with Witco Corporation and focuses on lubricant additives and engine-oil performance. The invention combines detergent properties with attention to haze, viscosity, and wear-test results.

Collaborations

The supplied information lists Wayne A. Mackwood and Ronald J. Muir as Niece’s coworkers. Their names are provided as collaborators associated with his professional context, though the specific contributions of each person are not detailed.

Conclusion

Ken Niece’s identified patent presents a method and formulation for producing calcite-core calcium sulfonate detergents intended to support clear, stable engine oils with specified anti-wear performance.