6. Segment Information (Details Narrative)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		100.00%		100.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | One Customer [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		24.00%		18.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	62.00%		58.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | UNITED STATES | One Customer [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		35.00%		25.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | European operations [Member] | One Customer [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		17.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | European operations [Member] | Two Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage				28.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Asian Operations [Member] | One Customer [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		22.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Asian Operations [Member] | Three Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage				34.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | TOR Processing and Trade, BV [Member] | Inter-Company Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		44.00%		33.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | TOR Minerals Malaysia [Member] | Inter-Company Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		65.00%		68.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Products Manufactured in US [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		69.00%		69.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Products Manufactured in Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		24.00%		23.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Products Manufactured in Asia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		6.00%		8.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | One Customer [Member] | Asian Operations [Member] | Three Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage				12.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | One Customer [Member] | European [Member] | One Customer [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage				16.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Customer 2 [Member] | Asian Operations [Member] | Three Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage				11.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Customer 2 [Member] | European [Member] | One Customer [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage				12.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Customer 3 [Member] | Asian Operations [Member] | Three Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage				11.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | ALUPREM [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		44.00%		36.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | HITOX [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		21.00%		28.00%
Total Foreign Sales [Member] | GERMANY
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	22.00%		23.00%
Total Foreign Sales [Member] | ITALY
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	10.00%
Percentage Employees [Member] | Collective Bargaining Agreement [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		7.00%		12.00%