article published yes Nicolas Bain author Lawrence A. Wilen author Dominic Gerber author Mengjie Zu author 26dd9e7c-e86a-11eb-a854-82ac731c9ae2 Carl Peter Goodrich author EB352CD2-F68A-11E9-89C5-A432E66974250000-0002-1307-5074 Senthilkumar Duraivel author Kaarthik Varma author Harsha Koganti author Robert W. Style author Eric R. Dufresne author CaGo department Soft solids and their surface deformations control the response of many natural and artificial systems. Yet, their underlying properties are vigorously debated, particularly for polymer networks. While molecular-scale theories predict no interfacial changes with macroscopic deformation, multiple experiments suggest otherwise. To settle this issue, we measure displacement fields near the interface of a silicone gel, in the limit of small deformations. We discover an unexpected multiscale response. The shear modulus decreases smoothly by half with 20  μ⁢m of the interface. At the same time we observe a surface excess elasticity, that depends on history and outer medium composition. These results reveal the fundamentally multiscale nature of polymeric surfaces, and call for further experimental and theoretical investigations into the basic understanding of soft solid interfaces. https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/download/22288/22309/2026_PhysicalReviewX_Bain.pdf application/pdfno American Physical Society2026 eng 2160-3308 2410.0915810.1103/8msx-l8s7 162 Bain, Nicolas, Lawrence A. Wilen, Dominic Gerber, Mengjie Zu, Carl Peter Goodrich, Senthilkumar Duraivel, Kaarthik Varma, Harsha Koganti, Robert W. Style, and Eric R. Dufresne. “Multiscale Interfacial Mechanics of Soft Solids.” <i>Physical Review X</i>. American Physical Society, 2026. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/8msx-l8s7">https://doi.org/10.1103/8msx-l8s7</a>. Bain N, Wilen LA, Gerber D, et al. Multiscale interfacial mechanics of soft solids. <i>Physical Review X</i>. 2026;16(2). doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/8msx-l8s7">10.1103/8msx-l8s7</a> Bain N, Wilen LA, Gerber D, Zu M, Goodrich CP, Duraivel S, Varma K, Koganti H, Style RW, Dufresne ER. 2026. Multiscale interfacial mechanics of soft solids. Physical Review X. 16(2), 021063. Bain, N., Wilen, L. A., Gerber, D., Zu, M., Goodrich, C. P., Duraivel, S., … Dufresne, E. R. (2026). Multiscale interfacial mechanics of soft solids. <i>Physical Review X</i>. American Physical Society. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/8msx-l8s7">https://doi.org/10.1103/8msx-l8s7</a> N. Bain, L.A. Wilen, D. Gerber, M. Zu, C.P. Goodrich, S. Duraivel, K. Varma, H. Koganti, R.W. Style, E.R. Dufresne, Physical Review X 16 (2026). N. Bain <i>et al.</i>, “Multiscale interfacial mechanics of soft solids,” <i>Physical Review X</i>, vol. 16, no. 2. American Physical Society, 2026. Bain, Nicolas, et al. “Multiscale Interfacial Mechanics of Soft Solids.” <i>Physical Review X</i>, vol. 16, no. 2, 021063, American Physical Society, 2026, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/8msx-l8s7">10.1103/8msx-l8s7</a>. 222882026-07-13T09:40:54Z2026-07-13T11:17:51Z