Operating Segment Information - Reportable Segment Data (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments | segment			2
Operating segment information
Number of Reportable Segments | segment			2
Net Sales
Net sales	$ 404.5	$ 399.2	$ 1,157.8	$ 1,203.4
Adjusted EBIT
Gain on termination of postretirement plans related to current businesses	0.0	1.9	0.0	1.9
Total	102.7	84.5	281.4	238.4
Total Assets
Assets	3,007.5		3,007.5		$ 3,645.7
Assets of discontinued operations	0.0		0.0		867.3
Reconciliation of operating segment data to financial statements
Restructuring and repositioning expenses	5.6	5.2	28.6	14.9
(Costs) benefit related to Chapter 11, and legacy product and environmental, net	13.1	6.2	24.2	(0.6)
Third-party acquisition-related costs	0.0	0.0	2.5	0.0
Amortization of acquired inventory fair value adjustment	4.1	0.0	4.1	0.0
Pension MTM adjustment and other related costs, net	(0.2)	0.0	(1.1)	4.2
Gain on sale of product line	0.0	0.0	0.7	0.0
Income and expense items related to divested businesses	0.1	(0.8)	0.3	(1.3)
Gain on curtailment of postretirement plans related to divested businesses	0.0	2.6	0.0	2.6
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0.0	0.0	(11.1)	0.0
Interest expense, net	(19.4)	(25.1)	(60.6)	(74.2)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.1)	0.1	0.3	0.1
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	60.7	51.3	151.5	149.5
Grace Catalysts Technologies [Member]
Adjusted EBIT
Operating income	94.3	86.4	260.1	246.7
Grace Materials Technologies [Member]
Adjusted EBIT
Operating income	26.4	23.6	75.0	71.3
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Adjusted EBIT
Operating income			(44.4)	(66.1)
Certain pension costs	(3.1)	(5.1)	(9.3)	(15.4)
Operating Segments | Grace Catalysts Technologies [Member]
Net Sales
Net sales	295.8	285.3	834.8	855.6
Total Assets
Assets	1,665.7		1,665.7		1,390.8
Operating Segments | Grace Materials Technologies [Member]
Net Sales
Net sales	108.7	113.9	323.0	$ 347.8
Total Assets
Assets	299.8		299.8		333.4
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Adjusted EBIT
Operating income	(14.9)	$ (22.3)
Total Assets
Assets	$ 1,042.0		$ 1,042.0		$ 1,054.2