Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense	$ 4,300	$ 4,600	$ 5,300
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses	2,700	(500)	1,300
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts [Table]
At beginning of period	1,912	1,354	368
Activity in the period:
Provision for doubtful accounts	5,672	2,580	1,152
Account chargeoffs	(760)	(2,022)	(166)
At end of period	6,824	1,912	1,354
Depreciation expense	32,400	42,900	39,400
Amortization expense of patents, trademarks, and other intangible assets	5,300	5,100	4,300
Future amortization expense, 2014	4,500
Future amortization expense, 2015	4,100
Future amortization expense, 2016	3,800
Future amortization expense, 2017	3,700
Future amortization expense, 2018	3,700
Parent Company [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Current amount outstanding	0
Standard Lithium [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Revenue from related parties	3,100	1,100	$ 1,000
Unearned revenue	$ 900	$ 200
Building [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	40 years
Building [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	15 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	20 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	2 years
Automobiles and trucks [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	4 years
Automobiles and trucks [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years
Chemical plants [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	30 years
Chemical plants [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant, and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	15 years
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	13 years
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	1 year