Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Changes in Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Jan. 12, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 243,262us-gaap_Goodwill
Foreign currency translation	(176,636)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Balance at end of period	2,709,670us-gaap_Goodwill
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period		2,624,876
Acquisition of goodwill	2,624,876
Balance at end of period		2,624,876
Shanghai Chemetall
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill	$ 18,168

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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