Goodwill and Other Intangibles Other Intangibles (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period		$ 129,873
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(82,021)
Gross Asset Value, End of Period		2,062,467
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period		(85,748)
Amortization		(40,354)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		2,816
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period		(123,286)
Net Book Value		1,939,181	$ 44,125
Customer lists and relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period		48,479
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(48,511)
Gross Asset Value, End of Period		1,394,667
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period		(22,931)
Amortization		(27,308)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		874
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period		(49,365)
Net Book Value		1,345,302	25,548
Trade names and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period		17,555
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(20,051)
Gross Asset Value, End of Period		360,624
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period		(7,912)
Amortization		(6,106)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		217
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period		(13,801)
Net Book Value		346,823	9,643
Patents and technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period		40,398
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(12,698)
Gross Asset Value, End of Period		256,973
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period		(32,831)
Amortization		(6,726)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		1,319
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period		(38,238)
Net Book Value		218,735	7,567
Other
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning of Period		23,441
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(761)
Gross Asset Value, End of Period		50,203
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning of Period		(22,074)
Amortization		(214)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		406
Accumulated Amortization, End of Period		(21,882)
Net Book Value		28,321	$ 1,367
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets		1,936,169
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Customer lists and relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets		1,317,759
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Trade names and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets		363,120
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Patents and technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets		227,840
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Other
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets		27,450
Other significant projects
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets	[1]	78,446
Other significant projects | Customer lists and relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets	[1]	76,940
Other significant projects | Trade names and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets	[1]	0
Other significant projects | Patents and technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets	[1]	1,433
Other significant projects | Other
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets	[1]	$ 73

[1] Primarily relates to the acquisition of the remaining interest in Shanghai Chemetall. See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”