6. Segment Information (Details Narrative)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		100.00%		100.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage			53.00%		62.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | UNITED STATES | B A S F [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		23.00%		35.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | European operations [Member] | Hemmelrath [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		16.00%		17.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Asian Operations [Member] | Connell Bro [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		25.00%		22.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | TOR Processing and Trade, BV [Member] | Inter-Company Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		25.00%		44.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | TOR Minerals Malaysia [Member] | Inter-Company Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		46.00%		65.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Products Manufactured in US [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		62.00%		69.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Products Manufactured in Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		29.00%		24.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | Products Manufactured in Asia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		10.00%		6.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | ALUPREM [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		38.00%		44.00%
Sales Revenue [Member] | HITOX [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage		24.00%		21.00%
Total Foreign Sales [Member] | GERMANY
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	17.00%		22.00%
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%		7.00%