Restructuring Impairment Charges - Restructuring and Impairment Charges (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges for cost of sales	$ 368		$ 1,136			$ 368		$ 1,136
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges			(700)		2,300			1,600
Total charges for restructuring and impairment	4,525		834			4,525		8,183
High Performance Foams [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accelerated Depreciation	0		585			0		585
Inventory impairment	0		191			0		191
Union ratification bonus	181		0			181		0
Restructuring and Impairment
Fixed asset impairment for Bisco and Poron asset disposal	0		0			0		79
Printed Circuit Materials [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Union ratification bonus	179		0			179		0
Power Electronics Solutions [Member] | Power Distribution Systems [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accelerated Depreciation	0		360			0		360
Union ratification bonus	3		0			3		0
Restructuring and Impairment
Impairment of investment related receivable	0		264			0		264
Power Electronics Solutions [Member] | Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Union ratification bonus	5		0			5		0
Composite Material Division [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Inventory impairment	0		0			0		0
Pension Benefits [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Curtailment charge	1,537					1,537
Employee Severance [Member] | High Performance Foams [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges	1,253	[1]	670	[1]		1,253	[1]	3,088	[1]
Employee Severance [Member] | Printed Circuit Materials [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges	708	[1]	(276)	[1]		708	[1]	3,046	[1]
Employee Severance [Member] | Power Electronics Solutions [Member] | Power Distribution Systems [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges	845	[1]	(13)	[1]		845	[1]	477	[1]
Employee Severance [Member] | Power Electronics Solutions [Member] | Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges	1,618	[1]	213	[1]		1,618	[1]	957	[1]
Employee Severance [Member] | Other [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges	$ 101	[1]	$ (24)	[1]		$ 101	[1]	$ 272	[1]

[1] For the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2013, this includes a pension curtailment charge of $1.5 million. See Note 8 - "Pension Benefit and Other Post Retirement Plans" for further information. For the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012, this includes an estimated $2.3 million charge recorded in the first quarter of 2012, offset by a favorable adjustment of $0.7 million recorded in the second quarter of 2012. This net charge of $1.6 million, for 2012, was related to the early retirement program implemented in the first quarter of 2012.