Segment Information - Schedule of Financial and Other Information by Business Unit (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) T	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) T
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 229,133	$ 211,207
Type of Revenue [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ProductMember	us-gaap:ProductMember
Cost of products sold	$ 193,516	$ 174,647
Type of Cost, Good or Service [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ProductMember	us-gaap:ProductMember
Gross profit	$ 35,617	$ 36,560
SG&A	24,622	29,931
(Gains) losses on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net	(669)	(1,116)
Operating income	11,664	7,745
Non-operating expense	(5,203)	(3,719)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$ 6,461	$ 4,026
Supplementary Data
Net tons sold | T	64,700	60,100
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	$ 12,788	$ 11,336
Capital expenditures	5,900	20,100
Composite Fibers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	128,717	$ 141,598
Type of Revenue [Extensible List]		us-gaap:ProductMember
Cost of products sold	106,600	$ 114,700
Type of Cost, Good or Service [Extensible List]		us-gaap:ProductMember
Gross profit	22,100	$ 26,900
SG&A	10,800	11,600
Operating income	11,300	15,300
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$ 11,300	$ 15,300
Supplementary Data
Net tons sold | T	31,500	36,300
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	$ 6,700	$ 7,400
Capital expenditures	3,200	5,100
Advanced Airlaid Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 100,416	$ 69,609
Type of Revenue [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ProductMember	us-gaap:ProductMember
Cost of products sold	$ 86,000	$ 59,700
Type of Cost, Good or Service [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ProductMember	us-gaap:ProductMember
Gross profit	$ 14,400	$ 9,900
SG&A	4,400	2,700
Operating income	10,000	7,200
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$ 10,000	$ 7,200
Supplementary Data
Net tons sold | T	33,200	23,800
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	$ 5,300	$ 2,800
Capital expenditures	$ 2,200	$ 13,200
Other and Unallocated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Type of Revenue [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ProductMember	us-gaap:ProductMember
Cost of products sold	$ 900	$ 200
Type of Cost, Good or Service [Extensible List]	us-gaap:ProductMember	us-gaap:ProductMember
Gross profit	$ (900)	$ (200)
SG&A	9,400	15,600
(Gains) losses on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net	(700)	(1,100)
Operating income	(9,600)	(14,800)
Non-operating expense	(5,200)	(3,700)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(14,800)	(18,500)
Supplementary Data
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	800	1,100
Capital expenditures	$ 500	$ 1,800