Microwave-Assisted Self-Healing of AC-WC Modified with Iron Powder: Mechanical Performance and Healing Rate

Amalia Firdaus Mawardi (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember)
Machsus Machsus (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember)
Dadang Supriyatno (Universitas Negeri Surabaya)
Achmad Faiz Hadi Prajitno (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember)
Muhammad Fikri Nadhif (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember)
Hazen Masrafat (Universitas Negeri Gorontalo)

Advance Sustainable Science, Engineering and Technology (ASSET)
Vol. 8 No. 4 (2026): August-October

Conventional asphalt mixtures have limited microwave absorption, reducing the effectiveness of microwave-assisted self-healing. This study evaluates the effect of iron powder (0–10% by mass of fine aggregate) as additional fine aggregate in AC-WC mixtures on mechanical performance and microwave-activated healing behavior. Cylindrical specimens (63 mm × 100 mm; three per mixture) were tested using Marshall Stability and Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) at 25 °C. Healing efficiency was determined by the ratio of post-heating ITS to initial ITS. Results showed that 10% iron powder increased Marshall stability by 36% compared to the control and achieved the highest healing rate of 76% after the first microwave cycle. However, repeated heating reduced healing performance due to overheating and accelerated binder aging. Iron powder improves early-stage self-healing but requires controlled dosage and heating conditions for long-term durability.