(Reconciliation Of Selected Segment Information To Corresponding Amounts Contained In Consolidated Financial Statements) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Elimination of intersegment revenue									$ 1.8	$ 0.8	$ 0.9
Total consolidated net sales	479.9	463.9	513.8	477.4	470.7	455.4	404.0	378.1	1,935.0	1,708.1	1,415.9
Total consolidated earnings from operations									309.4	132.2	107.8
Total consolidated assets	2,680.5				3,924.2				2,680.5	3,924.2	3,543.5
Other assets	404.2				1,813.3				404.2	1,813.3	2,113.8
Restructuring charges									6.9	21.2	0.8
Asset impairment charge									5.8	0	0
Gains (losses) on sale of assets pre-tax									0	16.7	(3.3)
Cash and cash equivalents	151.8				179.3				151.8	179.3	415.8	383.3
Previously Owned Coating Resins
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets held for sale					1,471.5					1,471.5	1,508.8
Umeco
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total consolidated net sales										150.0
Total consolidated earnings from operations										1.0
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales from segments									1,936.8	1,708.9	1,416.8
Elimination of intersegment revenue									(1.8)	(0.8)	(0.9)
Total consolidated net sales									1,935.0	1,708.1	1,415.9
Total consolidated earnings from operations									322.7	316.0	251.7
Total consolidated assets	2,276.3				2,110.9				2,276.3	2,110.9	1,429.7
Corporate Unallocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total consolidated earnings from operations									(13.3)	(183.8)	(143.9)
Restructuring charges									6.9	21.2	0.8
Change in Pension Accounting, Pre-Tax Benefit									27.4	55.5	60.5
Gains (losses) on sale of assets pre-tax										16.7	(3.3)
Accelerated depreciation										2.5	0.7
Decrease in environmental related accruals											0.6
Corporate Unallocated | Previously Owned Coating Resins
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Costs allocated to operations									12.2	66.5	66.0
Corporate Unallocated | Previously Owned Building Block Chemicals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Costs allocated to operations											1.0
Corporate Unallocated | Star Orechem
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Asset impairment charge									3.0
Corporate Unallocated | Umeco
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Costs to divest Umeco distribution product line									1.2
Costs incurred for acquisition					8.4					8.4
Other Assets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 151.8				$ 179.3				$ 151.8	$ 179.3	$ 415.8