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Investments in Privately Held Companies (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Investments in Privately Held Companies (Details)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) employee entity	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2016 employee	Sep. 30, 2016 item	Sep. 30, 2016 entity	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 entity
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments in privately-held companies								$ 7,025,000	$ 7,948,000
Income allocated to minority interests	$ (18,000)	$ 5,000	$ (480,000)	$ 257,000
Equity investments classified as other assets								12,084,000	14,114,000
Gross equity earnings from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income	(2,416,000)	$ 805,000	(5,834,000)	$ 3,546,000
Investments in unconsolidated privately-held entities, included in other assets								3
Joint Ventures [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Number of consolidated joint ventures		3		3		3	3			3
Income from three consolidated joint ventures	399,000	$ 459,000	(82,000)	$ 1,700,000
Income allocated to minority interests	(18,000)	5,000	(480,000)	257,000
Net income from joint ventures attributable to parent	$ 417,000	454,000	$ 398,000	1,400,000
Minority investments \| entity			4
Other Assets [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments in privately-held companies								10,500,000	12,100,000
Equity investments classified as other assets								7,000,000	7,900,000
Other Assets [Member] \| Joint Ventures [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Minority investment in consolidated joint venture, included in other assets								3,500,000	4,100,000
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated								3,331,000	3,331,000
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths)			46.00%
Employee duration			27 years
Number of persons on board \| employee					1
Nanjing Jin Mei Gallium Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated								592,000	592,000
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths)			83.00%
Number of new board representatives \| employee			2
Beijing BoYu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated								1,346,000	1,346,000
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths)			70.00%
Number of new board representatives \| employee			2
Donghai County Dongfang High Purity Electronic Materials Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments in privately-held companies								1,534,000	1,524,000
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths)	46.00%		46.00%
Xilingol Tongli Germanium Co. Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments in privately-held companies								4,421,000	5,343,000
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths)	25.00%		25.00%
Emeishan Jia Mei High Purity Metals Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments in privately-held companies								1,070,000	1,081,000
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths)	25.00%		25.00%
Seven Minority Investments
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Gross equity earnings from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income	$ (581,000)	$ 167,000	$ (1,400,000)	$ 777,000
Minority investments not consolidated accounted for under equity method \| entity			7
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co., Ltd
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Minority investments \| entity			3
Jinmei [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Minority investments \| entity			1
Majority-Owned Subsidiaries [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated								$ 5,269,000	$ 5,269,000