Employee Retirement and Other Benefit Plans, Multi-employer Plans (Details) (Pensionskasse - Old [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Multiemployer Plan, Plan Information, Available [Member] EUR (€)
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Legal Name of the plan	Pensionskasse der Wacker Chemie Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
Entity Tax Identification Number / Plan Number	N/A
Funded Status	At least 80 percent
Expiration date(s) of the collective bargaining agreement(s) requiring contributions to the plan	N/A (no expiration date)
Contributions to the plan by year	$ 1,300,000	$ 1,300,000	$ 1,400,000
As of the end of the most recent annual period				Dec. 31, 2010
Whether a funding improvement plan or a rehabilitation plan had been implemented	No
Whether the employer paid surcharge to the plan	No
Description of minimum contributions	The majority of the employers' contributions depend on the employees' contributions. The relation between the employers' and the employees' contribution can either decrease or increase in the future. Until 2011 the employer paid 250% of the employees' contribution. For the future - starting with 2012 - the employer has to pay 350% of the employees' contribution.
Description of the nature of plan benefits				The Pensionskasse der Wacker Chemie VVaG provides monthly payments in case of retirement, disability or death (spouse or children). The benefits depend mainly on the employees' contributions.
Qualitative description of the extent to which the employer could be responsible for the obligations of the plan, including benefits earned by employees during employment with another employer				The plan is under very strict supervision by the German authorities. Therefore, in normal course it is very unlikely that the Pensionskasse der Wacker Chemie VVaG fails to fulfill its obligations. In this unlikely event, by law, the employer is responsible for the obligations of the plan. The employer is liable for the benefits of its employees who participate in the plan.
Other quantitative information, to the extent available, as of the most recent data available [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets				1,395,300
Interest rate used according to German GAAP (in hundredths)				4.00%
Actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits				1,317,700
Total contributions received by the plan				47,100
Projected benefit obligations for pension plan "continuation of payments in case of death"	$ 125,971	$ 126,001