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The novel chemical strategy for sustainability calls for a Sustainable and Safe-by-Design (SSbD) holistic approach to achieve protection of public health and the environment, industrial relevance, societal empowerment, and regulatory preparedness. Based on it, the ASINA project expands a data-driven Management Methodology (ASINA-SMM) capturing quality, safety, and sustainability criteria across the Nano-Enabled Products’ (NEPs) life cycle. We base the development of this methodology through value chains of highly representative classes of NEPs in the market, namely, (i) self-cleaning/air-purifying/antimicrobial coatings and (ii) nano-structured capsules delivering active phases in cosmetics. These NEPs improve environmental quality and human health/wellness and have innovative competence to industrial sectors such as healthcare, textiles, cosmetics, and medical devices. The purpose of this article is to visually exhibit and explain the ASINA approach, which allows identifying, combining, and addressing the following pillars: environmental impact, techno-economic performance, functionality, and human and environmental safety when developing novel NEPs, at an early stage. A metamodel supports the above by utilizing quality data collected throughout the NEPs’ life cycle, for maximization of functionality (to meet stakeholders needs) and nano-safety (regulatory obligations) and for the minimization of costs (to meet business requirements) and environmental impacts (to achieve sustainability). Furthermore, ASINA explores digitalization opportunities (digital twins) to speed the nano-industry translation into automatic progress towards economic, social, environmental, and governance sustainability.

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In this work, a nanocomposite (Cr,Al)xN1−x/Si3N4 coating system was deposited on H11 hot work tool steel, using the Lateral Arc Rotating Cathodes (LARC®) deposition system and modulating the chemical composition of the chromium and aluminium–silicon content. Structural characterizations were performed using scanning electron microscopy, equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy probe, and applying x-ray diffraction, for the evaluation of phase constitution and crystallite size. In addition to the structural features, the coatings' resistance to cyclic immersions in molten aluminium alloy was evaluated. The deposited CrAlSiN coatings exhibited an fcc-Cr1−xAlxN type structure with different aluminium contents, which directly influence hardness and wear and fatigue resistance in cyclic immersion tests. The main failure modes that occurred on the coatings' surface were soldering and thermal fatigue cracks mainly in the form of heat checks. The aluminium rich coatings were able to withstand about 15 000 cycles, whereas the decrease in the aluminium content in the coatings results in a decrease in the resistance to the immersion in molten aluminium bath. It is worthwhile to note that uncoated H11, subjected to similar testing conditions, withstood at maximum 5000 cycles.

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