Segment Information (Additional Information) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived asset impairment charge				$ 0	$ 1,354	$ 0
Foreign currency translation loss					2,000
Net sales				566,852	524,505	535,829
Sales Revenue | Customer Concentration Risk | Ford Motor Company
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales				$ 110,900	$ 95,400	$ 88,400
Percentage of total net sales				19.60%	18.20%	16.50%
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Non-cash pension settlement charge associated with domestic defined benefit pension plan						$ 4,900
Transaction related costs				$ 3,700		2,600
Technical Nonwovens Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intercompany sales				18,200	$ 13,800	1,000
Purchase accounting adjustments related to inventory step-up				2,000		2,100
Performance Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived asset impairment charge					$ 1,400
Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales commission settlement						$ 2,900
Settlement expense		$ 3,500		$ 3,500
Vital Fluids
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash purchase sale price of Life Sciences Vital Fluids	$ 30,100
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | Vital Fluids
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash purchase sale price of Life Sciences Vital Fluids	$ 30,100
Gain on disposal of business			$ 11,800