CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 477.4	$ 378.1
Manufacturing cost of sales	337.0	252.9
Selling and technical services	39.5	33.1
Research and process development	13.4	12.9
Administrative and general	31.2	26.6
Amortization of acquisition intangibles	3.7	0.8
Earnings from operations	52.6	51.8
Other (expense) income, net	(0.7)	0.9
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	39.4	0
Equity in losses of associated companies	0.1
Interest expense, net	6.8	8.7
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	5.6	44.0
Income tax (benefit) provision	(2.4)	13.8
Earnings from continuing operations	8.0	30.2
Earnings from operations of discontinued business, net of tax	30.2	23.4
Net loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	(4.3)
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	25.9	23.4
Net earnings	33.9	53.6
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.4)	(0.5)
Net earnings attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.	33.5	53.1
Comprehensive income	13.3	88.5
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.2)	(0.2)
Comprehensive income attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.	$ 13.1	$ 88.3
Basic earnings per common share
Continuing operations	$ 0.18	$ 0.66
Discontinued operations (net of noncontrolling interests)	$ 0.57	$ 0.50
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.75	$ 1.16
Diluted earnings per common share
Continuing operations	$ 0.17	$ 0.65
Discontinued operations (net of noncontrolling interests)	$ 0.56	$ 0.49
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.73	$ 1.14
Dividends per common share	$ 0.125	$ 0.125