Moving handrail for escalator, and method for manufacturing same

Abstract

This method for producing a moving handrail for an escalator includes: a molding step for combining and molding a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarding agent with a metallic steel wire and canvas to obtain a handrail-shaped molded article; and a cooling and solidification step for cooling the molded article while maintaining the handrail shape without wetting the canvas with a coolant and without using a core for maintaining the handrail shape. The crystallization temperature of the resin composition is similar to the crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic resin.

Description

Escalator handrail and method for manufacturing the same

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a handrail for an escalator and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002] Escalator handrails are molded products made of a composite material containing thermoplastic resin, metal steel wire, and canvas. After molding, the canvas must be cooled and solidified without wetting it with a refrigerant, while maintaining the molded handrail shape. Patent Document 1 (JP 2014-162218 A) discloses a cooling method using a cooling mold and a cooling core mold, rather than directly contacting the molded product with cooling water. Patent Document 2 (JP 2010-538932 A) discloses a cooling method using a core with a vacuum source to bring a refrigerant into contact with the outer surface of the molded product while the molded product is tightly attached by vacuum.

[0003] JP 2014-162218 A JP 2010-538932 A

[0004] The methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 both involve cooling the canvas side of the handrail while holding it with a core, which requires complex and large-scale equipment. Furthermore, to cool the canvas without wetting it with the refrigerant, the refrigerant must be brought into contact with the side of the handrail opposite the canvas side by adjusting the flow rate. This inevitably results in slow cooling, which accelerates crystallization, particularly in crystalline resin compositions that contain pigments, leading to significant shrinkage on the side of the handrail opposite the canvas side (i.e., the front surface), making it difficult to maintain the shape of the handrail.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to solve the above problems and provide a molded product that combines a highly crystalline resin composition containing a pigment, metal steel wire, and canvas, and that can be cooled without wetting the canvas with a refrigerant after molding and while maintaining the molded handrail shape, thereby providing a moving handrail for escalators with high dimensional accuracy and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0006] A method for manufacturing a handrail for an escalator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a molding step of compounding a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder with a metal steel wire and canvas to obtain a molded product in the shape of a handrail, and a cooling and solidifying step of cooling the molded product while maintaining the handrail shape without wetting the canvas with a refrigerant and without using a core to maintain the handrail shape. The crystallization temperature of the resin composition is equivalent to the crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic resin.

[0007] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a handrail for an escalator, comprising a resin composition including a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder, a metal steel wire, and a canvas. The thermoplastic resin is a polyurethane elastomer. The pigment includes carbon black. The crystallization retarder includes nigrosine. The mass ratio of the crystallization retarder to the pigment is 0.15 or greater.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a molded product that combines a crystalline resin composition containing a pigment, a metal steel wire, and a canvas can be provided that does not wet the canvas with a refrigerant after molding, and that cools while maintaining the molded handrail shape, thereby providing a moving handrail for an escalator with high dimensional accuracy and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of an escalator handrail according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a manufacturing method for an escalator handrail according to the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of a manufacturing apparatus used in the manufacturing method for an escalator handrail according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view showing an example of a molded product cooling and solidification unit of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the crystallization temperatures of resin compositions containing various pigments. FIG. 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the flow direction of a refrigerant contacting the escalator handrail during the cooling and solidification process. FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the direction of compressive stress applied to the escalator handrail during the cooling and solidification process. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the crystallization temperature of a resin composition containing various pigments added to a thermoplastic resin and the difference in opening dimensions between a molded product of the resin composition and a molded product of the thermoplastic resin. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the melt flow rate and the crystallization temperature of a resin composition containing carbon black added to thermoplastic resins of the same grade but different resin viscosities.

[0010] 1 to 4, a method for manufacturing a moving handrail for an escalator according to this embodiment includes a molding step S1 in which a resin composition 12 containing a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder, a metal steel wire 14, and a canvas 16 are combined and molded to obtain a molded product in the shape of a handrail, and a cooling and solidifying step S2 in which the molded product is cooled and solidified while maintaining the handrail shape without wetting the canvas 16 with a refrigerant 24c and without using a core to maintain the handrail shape. Here, the crystallization temperature of the resin composition is equal to the crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic resin.

[0011] The method for manufacturing a moving handrail for an escalator according to the present embodiment includes the molding step S1 and the cooling and solidifying step S2, and the crystallization temperature T (°C) of the resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder is set to the crystallization temperature T ０ (°C). Here, the crystallization temperature T (°C) is equal to the crystallization temperature T ０ (℃), the temperature difference between them |T-T ０The temperature difference |T - T (°C) is equal to or less than the temperature difference at which the opening dimension fluctuates little, i.e., the escalator handrail has a stable shape, specifically 5°C or less. ０ If |(°C) is 5°C or less, the crystallization temperature rise caused by the pigment is suppressed by the crystallization inhibitor, and the escalator handrail has little fluctuation in the opening dimensions, i.e., a stable handrail shape, regardless of the type and content of the pigment. ０ is preferably 3°C or less, more preferably 1°C or less, and even more preferably 0.5°C or less.

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, an escalator handrail 10 obtained by the manufacturing method according to this embodiment is a composite material containing a resin composition 12, a metal steel wire 14, and canvas 16. In this escalator handrail 10, the dimension indicated by the arrow is referred to as the opening dimension 10as. If this opening dimension is not within an appropriate range, there is a risk of problems such as the escalator handrail becoming detached while the escalator is in motion. Therefore, it is necessary to keep this opening dimension within an appropriate range.

[0013] 3 and 4 , the manufacturing apparatus 20 used in the manufacturing method according to this embodiment includes a molded product forming section 22, a molded product cooling and solidifying section 24, and a molded product removal section 26. The molded product forming section 22 includes a raw material injecting section 221 for injecting raw material 11, an extrusion molding machine 223 for extruding resin composition 12, a metal steel wire supply roll 227 for supplying metal steel wire 14, a canvas supply roll 225 for supplying canvas 16, and a molding die 229 for collectively incorporating and molding the resin composition 12, the metal steel wire 14, and the canvas 16 to obtain a molded product in the shape of a handrail (i.e., escalator handrail 10). The molded product cooling and solidifying section 24 includes a refrigerant shower 242 that emits refrigerant 24c that cools and solidifies the resulting molded product (escalator handrail 10), a support table 244 for fixing the direction of travel of the molded product, and a roller shaft 246 for holding the molded product to prevent it from loosening. The molded product removal section 26 includes a winding drive section 262 for moving the cooled and solidified molded product (the escalator moving handrail 10), and a winding reel 264 for winding up the moved molded product.

[0014] In this manufacturing device, the molded product cooling and solidification section 24 does not include a core to maintain the handrail shape of the molded product, the escalator handrail 10. Because the core absorbs heat from the molded product, if the core does not have a temperature control mechanism, the core absorbs more heat from the molded product as the molding length increases, causing the temperature to rise. This changes the temperature distribution of the molded product during cooling, resulting in fluctuations and instability in the opening dimensions of the molded product. Furthermore, providing a temperature control mechanism along the entire length of the core to stabilize the opening dimensions creates problems such as increased equipment complexity and increased energy consumption. For the above reasons, it is preferable to shorten the length of the support stand 244, which fixes the direction of travel of the molded product, so as not to change the temperature distribution of the molded product during cooling.

[0015] 2 and 3, the molding step S1 included in the manufacturing method for an escalator handrail according to this embodiment is a step of forming a composite of a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder, a metal steel wire, and a canvas, and molding the composite to obtain a molded product in the shape of a handrail. This step allows for efficient formation of molded products. This step includes the sub-steps of extruding the resin composition and molding the composite material.

[0016] (Preparation of Resin Composition) The resin composition 12 is obtained by injecting raw materials 11, which are a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder, into the raw material injection section 221, and kneading and extruding them using the extrusion molding machine 223. The kneading and extrusion are performed while the thermoplastic resin is in a molten state.

[0017] (Resin Composition) The resin composition 12 contains a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder. In this resin composition, the crystallization temperature increase caused by the pigment is suppressed by the crystallization retarder, so the crystallization temperature of the resin composition is made equal to the crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic resin itself that does not contain the pigment and the crystallization retarder (specifically, the temperature difference therebetween |T - T ０ | can be kept below 5℃.

[0018] The thermoplastic resin is not particularly limited as long as it has the flexibility and strength required for an escalator handrail, but from the viewpoint of excellent flexibility and strength, a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer is preferred. The thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer has a crystalline hard segment portion and an amorphous soft segment portion.

[0019] There are no particular limitations on the pigment as long as it can be added to a thermoplastic resin to color it, but it is preferable to include carbon black from the viewpoint of coloring and increasing the strength of the thermoplastic resin. Some pigments have the effect of promoting crystallization of a resin composition through a nucleating agent effect. Pigments with such an effect have the function of raising the crystallization temperature (solidification temperature) of a resin composition. An example of a pigment with such an effect is carbon black, which is used as a black pigment.

[0020] Figure 5 shows the crystallization temperatures of resin compositions containing various commercially available pigments used in thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. Here, Black 1 is carbon black. The crystallization temperature is the temperature at the top of the exothermic peak that occurs with crystallization when the resin is cooled from a molten state of 220°C to 30°C at a rate of 10°C / min, as measured by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry). Referring to Figure 5, it can be seen that the crystallization temperature of the resin composition varies greatly depending on the type of pigment.

[0021] The crystallization retarder suppresses the increase in the crystallization temperature T (°C) of the resin composition due to the pigment, and reduces the crystallization temperature T ０ (℃) (the temperature difference | T-T ０ Although there are no particular limitations on the compound as long as it can keep the crystallization temperature at 5°C or lower, it is preferable that the compound contains nigrosine, as it has a high effect of suppressing an increase in the crystallization temperature. Nigrosine is an azine compound obtained by adding hydrochloric acid to aniline or aniline hydrochloride and nitrobenzene in the presence of a catalyst such as copper or iron, and then subjecting the mixture to an oxidation-reduction condensation reaction, and is a mixture of compounds having various azine skeletons.

[0022] (Preparation of Molded Article) The resin composition 12 obtained by the above extrusion, the metal steel wire 14 supplied from the metal steel wire supply roll 227, and the canvas 16 supplied from the canvas supply roll 225 are combined in a molding die 229 and molded into a desired handrail shape to obtain a molded article, escalator handrail 10. Such molding is performed in a state where the thermoplastic resin is molten and the resin composition 12 is flowable.

[0023] (Metal Steel Wire) The metal steel wire 14 included in the escalator handrail 10 is not particularly limited as long as it has high adhesiveness to the resin composition 12 and improves the strength of the escalator handrail 10, and various steel wires can be used.

[0024] (Canvas) The canvas 16 included in the escalator handrail 10 is not particularly limited as long as it has high adhesiveness to the resin composition 12 and improves the abrasion resistance of the escalator handrail 10, and various canvases can be used.

[0025] 2 to 4, 6A, and 6B, the cooling and solidifying step S2 included in the manufacturing method of an escalator handrail according to this embodiment is a step of cooling and solidifying the molded product obtained in the molding step S1 while maintaining the handrail shape, without wetting the canvas 16 with the refrigerant 24c and without using a core to maintain the handrail shape. In this step, the crystallization temperature of the resin composition is equal to the crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic resin; specifically, the temperature difference therebetween is 5°C or less, preferably 3°C or less, more preferably 1°C or less, and even more preferably 0.5°C or less. Therefore, the molded product obtained in the molding step S1 can be cooled and solidified while maintaining the handrail shape, without wetting the canvas 16 with the refrigerant 24c and without using a core to maintain the handrail shape.

[0026] During the cooling and solidification process, the flow direction of the refrigerant 24c contacting the escalator handrail is shown in Figure 6A, and the direction of the compressive stress 24f applied to the escalator handrail at this time is shown in Figure 6B. As shown in Figure 6A, the flow rate of the refrigerant 24c is adjusted so as not to wet the canvas 16, and the refrigerant 24c is brought into contact with the surface of the escalator handrail opposite the canvas surface, i.e., the surface. During this process, the escalator handrail is cooled starting from the center of the surface, creating a temperature difference between the surface and canvas surfaces of the escalator handrail. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6B, when the canvas surface side is at a high temperature, compressive stress 24f is generated from both ends of the surface toward the center of the escalator handrail. With a resin composition with a high crystallization temperature, the surface side solidifies and shrinks when the canvas side of the escalator handrail is at a high temperature, resulting in larger opening dimensions in the molded product.

[0027] Fig. 7 shows the relationship between the crystallization temperature of a resin composition obtained by adding the pigment shown in Fig. 5 to a thermoplastic urethane elastomer, which is a thermoplastic resin, and the difference in opening size between a molded article of the resin composition and a molded article of the thermoplastic resin (more specifically, the difference between the opening size of the molded article of the resin composition and the opening size of the molded article of the thermoplastic resin). As shown in Fig. 7, resin compositions with higher crystallization temperatures tend to have a larger difference in opening size (i.e., larger opening sizes).

[0028] Figure 8 shows the relationship between the melt flow rate (one index of melt viscosity) and crystallization temperature for resin compositions containing carbon black added to thermoplastic urethane elastomers, which are thermoplastic resins of the same grade but different melt viscosities. The melt flow rate is measured using a melt indexer to measure the mass of resin flowing out in 10 minutes when a constant load is applied to molten resin at a constant temperature. The measurement conditions were a load of 10 kg and a temperature of 200°C. In other words, the higher the melt flow rate, the easier the resin flows (i.e., the lower the melt viscosity). As shown in Figure 8, even when using thermoplastic resins of the same grade, if the melt viscosities of the thermoplastic resins used are different, the crystallization temperature of the resin composition will differ, resulting in differences in the opening dimensions of the molded product.

[0029] To suppress the difference in crystallization temperature of the resin composition caused by differences in the melt flow rate of the thermoplastic resin, it is necessary to homogenize the crystallization temperature. The method of homogenizing by increasing the crystallization temperature results in the problem of larger opening dimensions in the molded product, as shown in Figure 7. For this reason, it is clear that a method of homogenizing by lowering the crystallization temperature of the resin composition is effective. To achieve this, the resin composition contains a crystallization retarder in an amount sufficient to suppress the increase in crystallization temperature caused by the pigment. For example, in a resin composition in which the thermoplastic resin is a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, the pigment contains carbon black, and the crystallization retarder contains nigrosine, by setting the mass ratio of nigrosine to carbon black to 0.15 or more, the crystallization temperature of the resin composition can be made equal to that of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (e.g., the temperature difference between them is 5°C or less). To further reduce the temperature difference between the crystallization temperature of a molded product of the resin composition and that of a molded product of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, the mass ratio of nigrosine to carbon black is preferably 0.16 or more, and more preferably 0.165 or more.

[0030] Pigments other than carbon black also have the same effect of increasing the crystallization temperature of the resin composition, so adding a crystallization retarder can suppress the increase in the crystallization temperature of the resin composition. As such a crystallization retarder, it is preferable to include nigrosine, from the viewpoint of its high effect of suppressing the increase in the crystallization temperature.

[0031] 3, the manufacturing method for an escalator handrail according to this embodiment can include a removal step of removing the cooled and solidified molded product. In this removal step, the cooled and solidified molded product is driven by a take-up drive unit 262 and taken up by a take-up reel 264.

[0032] Embodiment 2. Referring to FIG. 1 , an escalator handrail 10 according to this embodiment includes a resin composition 12 containing a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder, a metal steel wire 14, and a canvas 16. The thermoplastic resin is a polyurethane elastomer. The pigment includes carbon black. The crystallization retarder includes nigrosine. The mass ratio of nigrosine to carbon black is 0.15 or greater. Because the escalator handrail 10 according to this embodiment includes the pigment and the crystallization retarder in the resin composition, the crystallization retarder can suppress an increase in the crystallization temperature of the resin composition due to the pigment, thereby achieving high accuracy in the dimensions of the opening. In particular, the thermoplastic resin included in the resin composition of the escalator handrail 10 according to this embodiment is a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, the pigment includes carbon black, the crystallization retarder includes nigrosine, and the mass ratio of nigrosine to carbon black is 0.15 or greater. Therefore, the crystallization temperature of the resin composition and the crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic resin are equivalent (e.g., the temperature difference between them is 5°C or less), resulting in high accuracy in the dimensions of the opening. In the escalator handrail 10 of this embodiment, the mass ratio of nigrosine to carbon black is preferably 0.15 or more, from the viewpoint of achieving higher accuracy in the opening dimensions.

[0033] (Examples 1 and 2, and Comparative Examples 1 to 3) 1. Preparation of Resin Composition Using the raw material injection section 221 and extrusion molding machine 223 in the molded product forming section 22 of the manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 3, a resin composition (only the thermoplastic resin was used in Comparative Example 1) containing a thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer as a thermoplastic resin, carbon black as a pigment, and nigrosine (NUBIANBLACK AH-807 manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.) as a crystallization retarder was extruded as raw material 11. Here, the thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer used had a hardness of 80 to 95, a tensile strength of 40 to 50 MPa, and an elongation of approximately 500 to 700%. The carbon black had an average particle size of 25 to 35 nm and a specific surface area of ​​70 to 85 (m ２ The carbon black is added as a masterbatch containing 10% by mass of carbon black in the thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer, from the viewpoint of uniform addition.

[0034] The proportions of thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer, carbon black, and nigrosine contained in each resin composition are shown in Table 1. The parts by mass of thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer shown in Table 1 include the thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer in the masterbatch. In Table 1, Comparative Example 1 is the thermoplastic resin itself to which no pigment or crystallization retardant has been added, Comparative Example 2 is the thermoplastic resin to which only a pigment has been added, Comparative Example 3 is the thermoplastic resin to which a pigment and a crystallization retardant (0.125 times the pigment) have been added, Example 1 is the thermoplastic resin to which a pigment and a crystallization retardant (0.165 times the pigment) have been added, and Example 2 is the thermoplastic resin to which a pigment and a crystallization retardant (0.25 times the pigment) have been added.

[0035] A portion of the resin composition 12 from each Example and Comparative Example was taken and its crystallization temperature was measured using a DSC (DSC600, manufactured by Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation). The measurement was performed by cooling the resin from a molten state of 220°C to 30°C at a rate of 10°C / min, and the temperature at the peak of the exothermic peak that occurs as the resin composition crystallizes was taken as the crystallization temperature. The results for each Example and Comparative Example are summarized in Table 1. In Table 1, the temperature difference in crystallization temperature refers to the temperature difference between the crystallization temperature of the resin composition of each Example or Comparative Example and the crystallization temperature of the resin composition of Comparative Example 1 (i.e., the thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer itself).

[0036] 2. Preparation of Molded Product Using a molding die 229 in the molded product forming section 22 of the manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 3, the resin composition 12 obtained by the above extrusion, the metal steel wire 14, and the canvas 16 were combined and molded.

[0037] 3. Cooling and Solidifying the Molded Product The molded product was cooled and solidified using the molded product cooling and solidifying section 24 of the manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in Figures 3 and 4. The accuracy of the opening dimensions of the molded products (i.e., escalator handrails) after cooling and solidifying for each Example and Comparative Example was evaluated. The evaluation criteria were: Good if the opening dimensions of the molded product matched the design dimensions and could be installed on the escalator; and Bad if the opening dimensions of the molded product did not match the design dimensions and could not be installed on the escalator. The results are summarized in Table 1.

[0038]

[0039] Referring to Table 1, in Comparative Example 1, the resin composition was a thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer without the addition of either carbon black or nigrosine, so the precision of the opening dimensions was good. In Comparative Example 2, only carbon black was added to the resin composition, so the crystallization temperature of the resin composition was 26.6°C higher than that of Comparative Example 1, and the precision of the opening dimensions was also poor. In Comparative Example 3, carbon black and nigrosine were added to the resin composition, but the amount of nigrosine added was 0.125 times that of carbon black, so the crystallization temperature of the resin composition was 13.2°C higher than that of Comparative Example 1, and the precision of the opening dimensions was also poor. In Example 1, carbon black and nigrosine were added to the resin composition, and the amount of nigrosine added was 0.165 times that of carbon black, so the crystallization temperature of the resin composition was 0.2°C higher than that of Comparative Example 1, and the precision of the opening dimensions was good. In Example 2, carbon black and nigrosine were added to the resin composition, and the amount of nigrosine added was 0.165 times that of carbon black. Therefore, the crystallization temperature of the resin composition differed from that of Comparative Example 1 by 0.2°C, and the accuracy of the opening dimensions was good.

[0040] In order to manufacture an escalator handrail with opening precision that allows installation on an escalator, the crystallization temperature of the resin composition must be equivalent to that of the thermoplastic resin (i.e., the thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer itself) (for example, the temperature difference between their crystallization temperatures must be 5°C or less). From the above results, it was found that in order to keep the temperature difference in crystallization temperatures at 5°C or less, the amount of nigrosine added must be 0.15 times or more, preferably 0.16 times or more, and more preferably 0.165 times or more, the amount of carbon black.

[0041] Furthermore, since nigrosine is more expensive than carbon black, the smaller the amount of nigrosine added, the better. From this perspective, the amount of nigrosine added is preferably 0.25 times or less that of carbon black.

[0042] The embodiments and examples disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the embodiments and examples described above, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims.

[0043] 10 escalator handrail, 10as opening dimensions, 11 raw material, 12 resin composition, 14 metal steel wire, 16 canvas, 20 manufacturing apparatus, 22 molded product forming section, 24 molded product cooling and solidification section, 24c refrigerant, 24f shrinkage stress, 26 molded product removal section, 221 raw material injection section, 223 extrusion molding machine, 225 canvas supply roll, 227 metal steel wire supply roll, 229 molding die, 242 refrigerant shower, 244 support stand, 246 roller shaft, 262 winding drive section, 264 winding roll, S1 molding process, S2 cooling and solidification process.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a moving handrail for an escalator, comprising: a molding step of forming a composite containing a resin composition including a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder, a metal steel wire, and a canvas, and obtaining a molded product in the shape of a handrail; and a cooling and solidifying step of cooling and solidifying the molded product while maintaining the handrail shape, without wetting the canvas with a refrigerant and without using a core to maintain the handrail shape, wherein the crystallization temperature of the resin composition is equivalent to the crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic resin.

2. The method for manufacturing a moving handrail for an escalator according to claim 1, wherein the crystallization retardant includes nigrosine.

3. The method for manufacturing a moving handrail for an escalator according to claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic resin is a polyurethane elastomer, the pigment contains carbon black, and the mass ratio of the nigrosine to the carbon black is 0.15 or more.

4. A handrail for an escalator comprising a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin, a pigment, and a crystallization retarder, a metal steel wire, and a canvas, wherein the thermoplastic resin is a polyurethane elastomer, the pigment contains carbon black, the crystallization retarder contains nigrosine, and the mass ratio of the nigrosine to the carbon black is 0.15 or more.

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