thermal management techniques and methods for various types of structures that require a thermal property , such as thermal conductivity and / or flame retardance , and have a surface in proximity to a source of thermal energy . such a structure includes a substrate formed of a metallic material or a thermally conductive plastic material , and a white fluoropolymer layer directly on a surface of the substrate without a discrete adhesive layer therebetween . the white fluoropolymer layer defines an outermost surface of the structure , has a reflectivity of greater than 95 %, and has a thickness sufficient to inhibit degradation of the thermal property of the structure resulting from impingement of the surface by the thermal energy .