Standard deviation in maximum restoring force controls the intrinsic strength of face-centered cubic multi-principal element alloys

In this study, we explore the mechanisms underlying the exceptional intrinsic strength of face-centered cubic (FCC) Multi-Principal Element Alloys (MPEAs) using a multifaceted approach. Our methods integrate atomistic simulations, informed by both embedded-atom model and neural network potentials, with first-principles calculations, stochastic Peierls-Nabarro (PN) modeling, and symbolic machine learning. We identify a consistent, robust linear correlation between the strength of MPEAs and the standard deviation of the maximum stacking-fault restoring force (τ_max,sd) across various potentials. This finding is substantiated by comparing the experimental strengths of Cantor alloys’ subsystems and Ni_62.5V_37.5 against τ_max,sd values from high-throughput first-principle calculations. Our theoretical insights are derived from integrating the stochastic Peierls-Nabarro model with a shearable precipitation hardening framework, demonstrating that lattice distortion alone does not directly enhance intrinsic strength. Instead, τ_max,sd emerges as a critical determinant, capable of boosting the strength of MPEAs by up to tenfold. Our analysis reveals the critical role of the exponential form of the PN model in achieving substantial strength improvement by transforming the Gaussian-like distribution of τ_max into an exponential-like distribution of local Peierls stress. Additionally, using an advanced symbolic machine learning technique, the sure independence screening and sparsifying operator (SISSO) method, we derive interpretable relationships between MPEA strength, elastic properties, and τ_max statistics, offering new insights into the design and optimization of advanced MPEAs. These findings highlight that the nonlinear physics and atomic fluctuations characterizing MPEAs not only underpin their unconventional intrinsic strength but also contribute to other complex properties such as sluggish diffusion and cocktail effect.