Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 783.3	$ 766.0
Manufacturing cost of sales	572.7	585.6
Selling and technical services	55.4	54.7
Research and process development	20.0	19.2
Administrative and general	39.5	32.3
Amortization of acquisition intangibles	9.4	9.5
Gain on sale of assets	0	3.3
Earnings from operations	86.3	68.0
Other income (expense), net	1.5	(4.0)
Net loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0.1
Equity in earnings of associated companies	0.2	0.6
Interest expense, net	8.7	9.2
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	79.3	55.3
Income tax provision	25.7	15.0
Earnings from continuing operations	53.6	40.3
Earnings from operations of discontinued business, net of tax	0	6.8
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	0	36.8
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	43.6
Net earnings	53.6	83.9
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.5)	(0.7)
Net earnings attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.	53.1	83.2
Comprehensive income	88.5	137.5
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.2)	(0.7)
Comprehensive income attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.	$ 88.3	$ 136.8
Basic earnings per common share
Continuing operations	$ 1.16	$ 0.80
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.88
Basic earnings per common share	$ 1.16	$ 1.68
Diluted earnings per common share
Continuing operations	$ 1.14	$ 0.79
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.87
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 1.14	$ 1.66
Dividends per common share	$ 0.1250	$ 0.1250