Segment Reporting (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Apr. 03, 2015	Mar. 28, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 290,024us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 258,929us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Intersegment sales	17,562us-gaap_Revenues	11,319us-gaap_Revenues
Value-added sales	162,631mtrn_RevenueValueAddedSales	144,861mtrn_RevenueValueAddedSales
Operating profit (loss)	14,224us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	11,053us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Assets	781,146us-gaap_Assets	791,341us-gaap_Assets	762,069us-gaap_Assets
Performance Alloys and Composites [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	103,259	97,156
Intersegment sales	177	232
Value-added sales	85,590	80,024
Operating profit (loss)	6,803	6,209
Assets	438,816	428,339
Advanced Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	149,917	129,339
Intersegment sales	17,385	11,087
Value-added sales	51,727	41,670
Operating profit (loss)	8,903	5,145
Assets	145,606	171,277
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	36,848	32,434
Intersegment sales	0	0
Value-added sales	25,314	23,167
Operating profit (loss)	(1,482)	(301)
Assets	196,724	191,725
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	36,617	33,899
Intersegment sales	0	0
Value-added sales	24,564	23,919
Operating profit (loss)	1,675	4,123
Assets	125,039	146,301
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	231	(1,465)
Intersegment sales	0	0
Value-added sales	750	(752)
Operating profit (loss)	(3,157)	(4,424)
Assets	$ 71,685	$ 45,424

Revenue, Value Added Sales

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

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