Lead frame construct for lead-free solder connections

An electronics packaging arrangement, a lead frame construct for use in an electronics packaging arrangement, and a method for manufacturing an electronics packaging arrangement. A lead frame made of copper, for example, includes a metallic barrier layer of nickel, for example, to prevent oxidation of the metal of the lead frame. A relatively thin wetting promoting layer of copper, for example, is provided on the metallic barrier layer to promote uniform wetting of a solder, such as a lead-free, zinc-based solder, onto the lead frame during a die connect process by which a chip is connected to the lead frame. A copper/zinc intermetallic layer is formed during the flow and solidification of the solder. Substantially all of the copper in the copper layer is consumed during formation of the copper/zinc intermetallic layer, and the intermetallic layer is sufficiently thin to resist internal cracking failure during manufacture and subsequent use of the electronics packaging arrangement.