Property, Plant, and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	$ 800,671,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	$ 782,879,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Less allowances for depreciation, depletion, and amortization	(553,083,000)	(520,986,000)
Property, plant and equipment - net	247,588,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	261,893,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Property, Plant and Equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Cost of project	104,900,000mtrn_ProjectCosts
Capitalization of fixed assets	14,700,000mtrn_FixedAssetsCapitalization
Capitalization of capital leases	10,000,000mtrn_CapitalLeasesCapitalization
Reimbursements	63,500,000us-gaap_ReimbursementRevenue
Depreciation expense	4,700,000mtrn_DepreciationExpenses	4,700,000mtrn_DepreciationExpenses
Cost of sales	4,700,000mtrn_UnearnedIncome	4,700,000mtrn_UnearnedIncome
Depreciation and amortization expense	42,721,000	41,649,000	37,046,000
Net book value of capitalized software	6,100,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet	7,000,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet
Depreciation expense related to software	1,800,000	1,700,000	1,600,000
Land [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	7,458,000	8,097,000
Buildings [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	129,673,000	128,187,000
Machinery and equipment [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	579,906,000	569,617,000
Computer software [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	34,525,000	31,571,000
Construction in progress [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	16,818,000	14,363,000
Land Building Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Less allowances for depreciation, depletion, and amortization	(534,908,000)	(510,718,000)
Property, plant and equipment - net	233,472,000	241,117,000
Capital leases [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	10,912,000	10,912,000
Less allowances for depreciation, depletion, and amortization	(1,988,000)	(1,728,000)
Property, plant and equipment - net	8,924,000	9,184,000
Property, Plant and Equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization expense	37,500,000	36,100,000	31,000,000
Mineral resources [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,980,000	4,979,000
Mine development [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	16,399,000	15,153,000
Productive land [Member]
Summary of Property, plant and equipment
Less allowances for depreciation, depletion, and amortization	(16,187,000)	(8,540,000)
Property, plant and equipment - net	$ 5,192,000	$ 11,592,000

Capital Leases Capitalization

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- Definition

Depreciation Expenses

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- Definition

Fixed Assets Capitalization

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- Definition

Project Costs

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- Definition

Unearned Income

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- Definition

Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

+ References

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For each income statement presented, the amount charged to expense for amortization of capitalized computer software costs.

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The carrying amount of capitalized computer software costs net of accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date.

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The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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Repayment received or receivable for expenses incurred on behalf of a client or customer, other than those reimbursements received by landlords from tenants.

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