Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information
Number of reportable segments	4
Financial information with respect to the reportable segments
Net sales	$ 4,022,272	$ 4,009,624
Cost of goods sold	2,558,013	2,504,064
GROSS PROFIT	1,464,259	1,505,560
Selling general and administrative	1,465,546	1,426,197
Research and development	172,515	175,714
Income (loss) from operations	(173,802)	(96,351)
Accounts receivable by segment
Accounts receivable	2,184,653		2,060,312
Domestic
Financial information with respect to the reportable segments
Net sales	1,516,271	1,483,337
Cost of goods sold	905,158	866,508
GROSS PROFIT	611,113	616,829
Selling general and administrative	342,637	306,921
Income (loss) from operations	268,476	309,908
Accounts receivable by segment
Accounts receivable	963,201		928,698
Export
Financial information with respect to the reportable segments
Net sales	1,441,459	1,364,906
Cost of goods sold	1,105,090	1,026,517
GROSS PROFIT	336,369	338,389
Selling general and administrative	153,746	150,919
Income (loss) from operations	182,623	187,470
Accounts receivable by segment
Accounts receivable	809,007		708,933
IKONICS Imaging
Financial information with respect to the reportable segments
Net sales	843,471	841,701
Cost of goods sold	413,749	417,018
GROSS PROFIT	429,722	424,683
Selling general and administrative	281,438	305,712
Income (loss) from operations	148,284	118,971
Accounts receivable by segment
Accounts receivable	228,067		272,346
Other
Financial information with respect to the reportable segments
Net sales	221,071	319,680
Cost of goods sold	134,016	194,021
GROSS PROFIT	87,055	125,659
Selling general and administrative	205,717	212,488
Income (loss) from operations	(118,662)	(86,829)
Accounts receivable by segment
Accounts receivable	195,183		174,674
Unalloc.
Financial information with respect to the reportable segments
Selling general and administrative	482,008	450,157
Research and development	172,515	175,714
Income (loss) from operations	(654,523)	(625,871)
Accounts receivable by segment
Accounts receivable	$ (10,805)		$ (24,339)

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

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