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In general, are ICs magnetically sensitive? I have a bunch of logic gate ICs, driver ICs and Atmel Chips that I carry with me regularly. In addition I have small magnets that I use to pick up little components like resistors that are hard to get with your fingers. What other types of components might be magnetically sensitive?

Thanks! Jarrod

calvinjarrod
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    See http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/248703/the-mysterious-case-of-the-random-leakage-current for an interesting puzzler. – Transistor Oct 08 '16 at 20:12
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    Are you asking: 1. Are ICs attracted to a magnet?, or 2: Can a magnetic field affect the operation of an IC?, or 3. Can an IC be damaged by exposure to a magnetic field? – Peter Bennett Oct 08 '16 at 20:13
  • only the steel leadframes are.(but tend to be lower iron content)..unless it's a Hall sensor – Tony Stewart EE75 Oct 08 '16 at 18:18
  • @Peter I was mostly concerned about 2 and 3. If the magnetic field will effect the operation of an IC and if a magnetic field can damage an IC. – calvinjarrod Oct 09 '16 at 16:55
  • You should state your actual concerns in the question - don't just leave that information in a comment. – Peter Bennett Oct 09 '16 at 22:07

2 Answers2

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Hall effect and magnetometer chips are. As are GMR (giant magnetoresistance) chips. And isolators using inductive coupling. And probably others that don't come to mind at the moment.

If you actually mean 'ferromagnetic', some have ferromagnetic leadframes and some don't. Probably there is some correlation with higher power density parts which may use a copper leadframe and are thus not very ferromagnetic. Many cheap leaded components use mild steel which is quite ferromagnetic.

Even if the part is largely not ferromagnetic there may be metals such as nickel used in small quantities (for example a thin nickel barrier layer under gold plating) that will cause a noticable effect if you have a strong enough magnet.

Spehro Pefhany
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The rate of change of magnetic flux induces a voltage in any length of wire so, all electrical circuits and chips are sensitive to magnetism in the broadest sense.

Andy aka
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