Segment and Geographic Information - Schedule of Financial and Other Information by Business Unit (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 399,917	$ 413,325	$ 387,342	$ 390,713	$ 390,865	$ 405,301	$ 406,413	$ 402,218	$ 1,591,297	$ 1,604,797	$ 1,661,084
Energy and related sales, net									5,126	6,141	5,664
Total revenues									1,596,423	1,610,938	1,666,748
Cost of products sold									1,403,913	1,392,335	1,463,783
Gross profit	50,410	$ 54,735	$ 30,436	$ 56,929	56,867	$ 61,170	$ 42,723	$ 57,843	192,510	218,603	202,965
SG&A									134,394	190,694	127,706
(Gains) losses on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net									26	216	(21,113)
Operating income									58,090	27,693	96,372
Non-operating expense									(18,755)	(16,887)	(17,796)
Income before income taxes									39,335	10,806	78,576
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	865,743				775,898				865,743	775,898	698,864
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									76,048	65,826	63,236
Capital expenditures									132,300	160,200	99,900
Composite Fibers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									544,260	516,954	541,468
Total revenues									544,300	517,000	541,500
Cost of products sold									437,600	416,400	434,400
Gross profit									106,700	100,600	107,100
SG&A									44,400	46,300	45,700
Operating income									62,300	54,300	61,400
Income before income taxes									62,300	54,300	61,400
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	254,000				235,100				254,000	235,100	258,100
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									28,300	27,800	26,200
Capital expenditures									15,900	18,800	26,800
Advanced Airlaid Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									256,101	244,262	244,589
Total revenues									256,100	244,300	244,600
Cost of products sold									216,700	209,500	215,700
Gross profit									39,400	34,800	28,900
SG&A									9,300	8,400	7,600
Operating income									30,100	26,400	21,300
Income before income taxes									30,100	26,400	21,300
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	235,600				179,300				235,600	179,300	153,500
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									9,600	9,000	8,800
Capital expenditures									50,600	36,800	7,800
Specialty Papers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									790,935	843,582	875,026
Energy and related sales, net									5,100	6,100	5,700
Total revenues									796,000	849,700	880,700
Cost of products sold									734,200	752,600	804,500
Gross profit									61,800	97,100	76,200
SG&A									46,400	55,900	43,300
Operating income									15,400	41,200	32,900
Income before income taxes									15,400	41,200	32,900
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	360,500				352,900				360,500	352,900	282,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									30,800	26,300	26,000
Capital expenditures									51,500	99,000	63,500
Other and Unallocated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of products sold									15,400	13,900	9,200
Gross profit									(15,400)	(13,900)	(9,200)
SG&A									34,300	80,100	31,000
(Gains) losses on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net										200	(21,100)
Operating income									(49,700)	(94,200)	(19,100)
Non-operating expense									(18,800)	(16,900)	(17,800)
Income before income taxes									(68,500)	(111,100)	(36,900)
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	$ 15,600				$ 8,600				15,600	8,600	5,700
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									7,300	2,700	2,200
Capital expenditures									$ 14,300	$ 5,600	$ 1,800