Restructuring and Impairment Charges (Restructuring and Impairment Charges) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Cost of Sales
Inventory write-down				$ 0		$ 1,805
Restructuring charges recorded in cost of sales		368		1,847		0
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges				15,900
Allocated Solicore impairment	4,600
Total charges for Restructuring and Impairment		10,376		14,082		441
Asset Impairments [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Allocated Solicore impairment	4,600
Printed Circuit Materials [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges		802		2,915		0
Power Electronics Solutions [Member] | Facility Closing [Member]
Cost of Sales
Accelerated depreciation		0		393		0
Other [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges		115		255		0
Power Distribution Systems [Member] | Power Electronics Solutions [Member] | Facility Closing [Member]
Cost of Sales
Accelerated depreciation		0		499		0
Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member] | Power Electronics Solutions [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges		3,494		1,799		0
High Performance Foams [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Cost of Sales
Union ratification bonus		181		0		0
Restructuring and Impairment
Restructuring charges		0		2,188		0
High Performance Foams [Member] | Facility Closing [Member]
Cost of Sales
Accelerated depreciation		0		764		0
Restructuring and Impairment
Fixed asset disposal charges		0	[1]	79	[1]	441	[1]
Severance Costs		1,345		861		0
Restructuring charges		0		1,442		0
High Performance Foams [Member] | Asset Impairments [Member]
Cost of Sales
Inventory write-down		0		191		0
Restructuring and Impairment
Allocated Solicore impairment		1,617		0		0
Printed Circuit Materials [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Cost of Sales
Union ratification bonus		179		0		0
Printed Circuit Materials [Member] | Asset Impairments [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Allocated Solicore impairment		1,617		0		0
Power Distribution Systems [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Expenses and charges related to the termination of the operations				1,400
Power Distribution Systems [Member] | Facility Closing [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Expenses and charges related to the termination of the operations		0		149		0
Power Distribution Systems [Member] | Asset Impairments [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Allocated Solicore impairment		1,155		0		0
Impairment of investments		0		264		0
Power Distribution Systems [Member] | Power Electronics Solutions [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Cost of Sales
Union ratification bonus		8		0		0
Curamik Electronics Solutions [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Severance Costs		0		3,774		0
Other [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Expenses and charges related to the termination of the operations				300
Other [Member] | Asset Impairments [Member]
Restructuring and Impairment
Expenses and charges related to the termination of the operations		0		356		0
Allocated Solicore impairment		$ 231		$ 0		$ 0

[1] In the first quarter of 2012, we signed an agreement to sell our facility in Richmond, Virginia for $1.5 million. This facility had a book value of approximately $1.8 million prior to the signing of the agreement, and we recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0.4 million as of December 31, 2011, which represents the write down to the selling price minus approximately $0.1 million of estimated selling costs. The transaction closed in the second quarter of 2012.