Polymer components

Conventional curable polymers tend to shrink upon curing whilst low shrinkage ultraviolet light curing polymers have a problem with respect to curing below surface areas of a component. By providing light transmitting elements and/or local ultraviolet light source precursors, greater depth of ultraviolet curing can be achieved and therefore enhanced acceptability with regard to component manufacture. The light transmitting elements may be formed by optic fibres or coatings to existing reinforcing fibres or through consideration of the refractive index of the cured and uncured polymer to create light transmission paths through the component. Ultraviolet light source precursors can be activated by heat or a "seed" light exposure or vibration to create localised ultraviolet curing of the polymer thereabout.