Operating Segment Information - Reportable Segment Data (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments | segment	3
Net Sales
Net sales	$ 362.8	$ 397.0
Adjusted EBIT
Certain pension costs	(3.1)	(5.3)
Total	82.6	71.5
Total Assets
Assets	2,888.4		$ 3,645.7
Assets of discontinued operations	0.0		838.1
Reconciliation of operating segment data to financial statements
Grace Adjusted EBIT	82.6	71.5
Restructuring expenses	(8.5)	(5.2)
Repositioning expenses	(5.1)	(0.3)
Income and expense items related to divested businesses	(3.0)	0.7
(Costs) benefit related to Chapter 11 and asbestos, net	(1.7)	9.7
Pension MTM adjustment and other related costs, net	0.2	(4.2)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(11.1)	0.0
Interest expense, net	(21.8)	(24.5)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.2)	0.0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	31.4	47.7
Grace Catalysts Technologies
Adjusted EBIT
Operating income	78.3	73.7
Grace Materials Technologies
Adjusted EBIT
Operating income	20.6	23.9
Operating Segments | Grace Catalysts Technologies
Net Sales
Net sales	260.6	281.0
Total Assets
Assets	1,335.7		1,390.8
Operating Segments | Grace Materials Technologies
Net Sales
Net sales	102.2	116.0
Total Assets
Assets	346.3		333.4
Corporate, Non-Segment
Adjusted EBIT
Operating income	(13.2)	$ (20.8)
Total Assets
Assets	$ 1,206.4		$ 1,083.4