Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 12, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 2,769,619		$ 2,769,619		$ 243,262
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid	$ 3,606,784
Appraisal shares	74,934
Total purchase price	5,718,268
Cash and cash equivalents	1,555,139
Trade and other accounts receivable	263,033
Inventories	292,623
Other current assets	84,148
Property, plant and equipment	1,410,498
Investments	538,885
Other assets	28,243
Current liabilities	(404,727)
Long-term debt	(1,319,132)
Pension benefits	(316,086)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(163,370)
Deferred income taxes	(830,526)
Total identifiable net assets	3,074,897
Goodwill	2,643,371
Total net assets acquired	5,718,268
Pro forma Net sales		931,485	$ 967,024	1,849,219	$ 1,921,364
Pro forma Net income from continuing operations		$ 102,246	$ 111,833	$ 224,391	$ 172,563
Pro Forma Net income from continuing operations per share, basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.91	$ 0.99	$ 2.04	$ 1.51
Pro Forma Net income from continuing operations per share, diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.91	$ 0.98	$ 2.03	$ 1.50
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Trade names and trademarks
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	104,380
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Other
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	27,450
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Patents and technology
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets:	227,840
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Trade names and trademarks
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets:	258,740
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Customer lists and relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets:	1,317,759
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Common Stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Shares issued	$ 2,036,550