A battery includes a thermally conductive housing, a first battery cell enclosed within the thermally conductive housing, and a laminated element enclosed within the thermal conductive housing. The laminated element is in contact with the first battery cell and the thermally conductive housing. The laminated element includes one or more heat conducting layers and one or more intumescent layers. The laminated element is configured to conduct heat generated by the first battery cell from the first battery cell to the thermally conductive housing during normal operational conditions of the first battery cell. A local portion of the laminated element adjacent to where the laminated element contacts the first battery cell is configured to reconfigure into a non-heat conducting configuration when the first battery cell experiences a thermal runaway condition.