right the temperature on the back side would be higher than on current craft, but the backside would be able to radiate heat no?

alternative idea:

the solid aborbs heat (cools the shield) to melt, then absorbs heat to warm up and boil, and the boiling gas is used as retro-firing rockets, any decrease in momentum due to the retro-rockets is less future heat absorbed (since the craft is slowing down faster)

think controlled steam explosion