Restructuring and Impairment Charges (Additional Information) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended						6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee Severance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Bremen facility shut-down [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Early Retirement Program [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Early Retirement Program [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Power Distribution Systems [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Power Distribution Systems [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Power Distribution Systems [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Printed Circuit Materials [Member] Contract Termination [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 High Performance Foams [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 High Performance Foams [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 High Performance Foams [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 High Performance Foams [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 High Performance Foams [Member] Contract Termination [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 High Performance Foams [Member] Employee Severance [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 High Performance Foams [Member] Asset impairments [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 High Performance Foams [Member] Other Restructuring [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member] Contract Termination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member] Employee Severance [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member] Facility Closing [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member] Power Distribution Systems [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Other operating segment [Member] Power Distribution Systems [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 High Performance Foams [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 High Performance Foams [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 High Performance Foams [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 High Performance Foams [Member] Employee Severance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 High Performance Foams [Member] Employee Severance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 High Performance Foams [Member] Employee Severance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 High Performance Foams [Member] Facility Closing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 High Performance Foams [Member] Facility Closing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 High Performance Foams [Member] Facility Closing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Power Distribution Systems [Member] Power Electronics Solutions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Power Distribution Systems [Member] Power Electronics Solutions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Power Distribution Systems [Member] Power Electronics Solutions [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges		$ 15,929,000			$ 1,600,000	$ 3,261,000		$ 5,500,000																											$ 2,188,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,442,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 423,000	$ 0	$ 0
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions		1,847,000	0	0
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges		14,082,000	441,000	0
Expenses and charges related to the termination of the operations							7,100,000		149,000	0	0	2,900,000	861,000	861,000	0	0	800,000	200,000	1,400,000	2,200,000	356,000	0	0	3,774,000	0	0	1,400,000	3,774,000	400,000	0	300,000
Restructuring Reserve, Accelerated Depreciation																																764,000	0	0							499,000	0	0
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments																																									264,000	0	0
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of																																79,000	441,000	0
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment, net	1,500,000	2,804,000	7,500,000	0
Investment Building and Building Improvements	1,800,000
Building selling costs	$ 100,000