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While cross-linked polyacrylamide has been used in food products and baby diapers for many years, we routinely field questions about safety and proper handling. Since safety issues and our customer's peace of mind are paramount, we commissioned this updated MSDS by Marty LaBenz, a noted chemist and regulatory affairs specialist.

Castle International Resources - Material Safety Data Sheet - 10 March 1999.

4 October 1999

Let me introduce myself. My name is Dale Greenwood, I am the president of Castle International Resources, and I've owned and operated this website since its inception over two years ago. Dan's will expressed his intent that I continue his efforts in the polymer business.

I have actively worked in the research & development of cross-linked polyacrylamide in agriculture for over a decade. The use of landscape fabric with polymer was my invention. I built Dan's computers, set-up and operated the original electronic bulletin board (pre-Internet), set-up and operated this website, and handled the technical details of Dan's communications systems until his untimely death last year.

I've just discovered the use of the Hydrosource trademark / service mark in this website may be problematic. According to the U.S Patent and Trademark office (USPTO), the federal trademark for the name Hydrosource was first applied for and granted to Hydrosource, Inc. out of Beaverton Oregon, a company that makes water purifiers. According to the USPTO, the Colorado corporation, Western Polyacrylamide, Inc. later applied for and was granted a 'service mark' (not a trademark) for the same name, Hydrosource. This service mark was recently (Jan. of 1999) renewed with the USPTO in the name of Western Polyacrylamide, Inc., a Colorado corporation. The Colorado Secretary of State's office has provided me documentation showing Dan allowed the original Colorado corporation charter for Western Polyacrylamide Inc. to lapse years ago. Crazy, huh?

On the anniversary of Dan's passing, I've decided to discontinue development of this original "Hydrosource" website. Beyond the issue of the ownership and/or control of the Hydrosource trademark / service mark, here are the factors that figure into this decision:

• During the last year of his life, Dan confided to me he allowed the polymer business to wane, as he was spending most of his time on other projects.
• In the year since Dan's passing, while waiting for estate and probate issues to be resolved, no active marketing or development of the Hydrosource website or brand name was done by myself.
• After two years of inactivity, the Hydrosource brand of cross-linked polyacrylamide appears to be barely recognizeable in the marketplace.
• The research projects done over the years with Hydrosource were not, strictly speaking, 'good' science. The performance characteristics of each batch of polymer weren't tested before they were put in the ground (the performance of polymer varies wildly from batch to batch). Since we don't know exactly what was put in the ground, duplication of the research can't be accomplished, and we can't engineer new projects using this body of 'scientific' research data.

Therefore, all library materials co-authored, published and edited by me will soon be transferred to my corporate website (Castle International Resources - www.castlekeep.com), as there is no sense in spending time and money maintaining separate websites. This does not mean we are 'getting out of the cross-linked polyacrylamide business.' - Far from it:

• A forwarding web page will be maintained at the www.hydrosource.com website location  pointing to the new Castle International Resources cross-linked polyacrylamide (CLP) website.
• There, customers will find three NEW brands of individually performance-tested CLP products:
  • Green Canteens - an economy-grade CLP, similar to the original Hydrosource, suitable for use around the home in potted plants, flower beds and small gardens.
  • Xerigel - a technical-grade, guaranteed-performance CLP, suitable for commercial use in truck farms, nurseries and landscape operations.
  • MaxSorb - a lab-grade, extreme-high-performance CLP, suitable for research & development projects and formal scientific studies.
• We will continue providing CLP from Floerger, the manufacturer of the Hydrosource brand of CLP. We also plan to second- and third-source CLP from a number of separate manufacturers to solve supply and quality-control problems caused when exclusively working with a single manufacturer (temporary shortages of CLP mid-season, changes in CLP formulation and production methods resulting in 'bad' batches of CLP, etc.). With our three new grades of CLP, our customers are guaranteed certain levels of CLP performance, regardless of the manufacturing source.
• Over the next few months: new technical articles will be published; a simplified set of directions will be made available; information on the use of a new and improved seedling growing-tray system similar to Booth tubes will be premiered; and a less expensive replacement for Saylor caps (individual greenhouses for early-season protection of field plants) will be provided along with photos.
• Our Quality Assurance CLP lab-testing program will include test results for: evapo-transpirative rates, free monomer, hydration performance, UV-resistance, freeze/thaw resistance, heat resistance, ion/hydration impairment studies, rate of hydration, rate of dessication and weight stability with respect to moisture, among others.
• Hundreds of websites and page links will be presented in a library of gardening and agricultural know-how, with special editorial articles. Most of the original BBS articles and photos will be added to the website. Current research efforts will be published.
• New agricultural CLP products will make their debut: a simple and inexpensive system to add CLP to potted plants; CLP pre-loaded with nutrients; & etc.
• A new line of polymer-containing garments will make it's debut: bandanas; headbands; wristbands; vests; dog beds; dog vests; & etc. These new products will be sold at a profit in the form of fund-raising kits to health and educational organizations. In Dan's memory, a portion of the proceeds will be donated by Castle to selected health and education causes.
• Graded polymer will allow us to sponsor serious, reproducible, scientific, agricultural research studies. Over the last few years there was some success in securing federal and state funds for projects. Researchers are encouraged to contact us by e-mail with an outline of projects which lack monies and/or sponsorship.

Revised: February 23, 2007.