Study of the Effect of Adding LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) Plastic on the Stability Value of AC- WC Mixtures Using SEM and XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) Analysis

The use of asphalt, especially AC-WC, still dominates the construction of road transportation facilities in Indonesia. One way to improve the quality of highways is by adding additives, such as the use of LDPE plastic into the asphalt mixture, which not only reduces waste but also produces stronger and more durable materials. This is followed by analysis using SEM and XRF, which allows researchers to study the microstructure and chemical composition of the AC- WC mixture. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of varying LDPE plastic mixture content on the Marshall stability of asphalt concrete mixtures and to understand the microstructure from the addition of LDPE plastic through SEM and XRF testing. This research was conducted with 5 variations of plastic content: 0.00%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00%. The results of this study indicate that with the addition of a higher plastic content, the structure produced in the SEM readings becomes very dense and homogeneous with cracks that are almost invisible. For the XRF test, three main components were identified, namely: SiO2, Al2O3, and MgO. These three main components are the contents of the aggregates that affect the strength, elasticity, and optimal adhesion, thus enhancing the Marshall stability values.