Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 12, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 2,811,086		$ 2,811,086		$ 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	262,947
Inventories	292,503
Other current assets	86,267
Property, plant and equipment	1,395,684
Investments	529,453
Other assets	28,386
Current liabilities	(409,799)
Long-term debt	(1,319,132)
Pension benefits	(316,086)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(168,435)
Deferred income taxes	(830,572)
Noncontrolling interests	(3,022)
Total identifiable net assets	3,040,803
Goodwill	2,677,465
Total net assets acquired	5,718,268
Pro forma Net sales		905,093	$ 998,718	2,754,312	$ 2,920,082
Pro forma Net income from continuing operations		$ 111,211	$ 143,675	$ 335,602	$ 316,238
Pro forma Net income from continuing operations per share, basic		$ 0.99	$ 1.28	$ 3.03	$ 2.79
Pro forma Net income from continuing operations per share, diluted		$ 0.99	$ 1.27	$ 3.02	$ 2.76
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	1,319,060
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Common Stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Shares issued	$ 2,036,550