Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits Domestic and Foreign Pension and Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Jan. 12, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 01, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlements/curtailments					$ (800)
Total net pension benefits cost		$ 839	$ 4,029				$ (232)		$ 21,946
United States Pension Plan of US Entity
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate											4.94%	4.97%	5.14%
Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost		1,874	2,678				5,544		8,245
Interest cost		10,180	8,006				30,360		24,303
Expected return on assets		(11,834)	(10,027)				(35,367)		(30,404)
Actuarial (gain) loss		0	2,786	[1]	$ 15,400	[1]	(51)		18,218	[1]
Amortization of prior service benefit		30	(119)				89		(530)
Total net pension benefits cost		250	3,324				575		19,832
Postretirement Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost		36	54				107		162
Interest cost		643	760				1,930		2,280
Expected return on assets		(66)	(85)				(178)		(256)
Amortization of prior service benefit		(24)	(24)				(72)		(72)
Settlements/curtailments		0	0				(2,594)	[2]	0
Total net pension benefits cost		$ 589	$ 705				$ (807)		$ 2,114
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | United States Pension Plan of US Entity
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation	$ 39,125
Fair value of plan assets	29,314
Funded status	$ (9,811)
Discount rate	4.09%
Expected return on plan assets	6.03%
Rate of compensation increase	0.00%
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Foreign Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation	$ 416,150
Fair value of plan assets	109,875
Funded status	$ (306,275)
Discount rate	2.35%
Expected return on plan assets	5.78%
Rate of compensation increase	3.15%

[1] In connection with a realignment of our operating segments effective January 1, 2014, in the fourth quarter of 2013 we initiated a workforce reduction plan which resulted in a reduction of approximately 230 employees worldwide. This workforce reduction triggered a net curtailment gain of approximately $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2014 for our U.S. defined benefit plan which covers non-represented employees and our supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”). In connection with the curtailment, we were required to remeasure the related assets and obligations for these two plans. As of the January 31, 2014 remeasurement date, the weighted-average discount rate for all of our domestic pension plans was 4.97% compared to 5.14% at December 31, 2013. Taking into account the discount rate reduction and actual return on plan assets through January 31, 2014, we recorded a mark-to-market actuarial loss (net of the curtailment gain) of $15.4 million in the first quarter of 2014 related to these two plans.In connection with the sale of our antioxidant, ibuprofen and propofol businesses and assets to SI Group, Inc. which closed on September 1, 2014, in the third quarter of 2014 we were required to remeasure the assets and obligations of one of our U.S. defined benefit plans for represented employees, which was part of the disposed group. As of the September 1, 2014 remeasurement date, the weighted-average discount rate for all of our domestic pension plans was 4.94% compared to 5.14% at December 31, 2013. Taking into account the discount rate reduction and actual return on plan assets through September 1, 2014, as well as changes to mortality assumptions, we recorded a mark-to-market actuarial loss of $2.8 million in the third quarter of 2014 related to this plan.

[2] We assumed responsibility for one domestic OPEB plan in connection with the acquisition of Rockwood which covered a small number of active employees and retirees. This plan was terminated in the first quarter of 2015 and provisions were made for the affected employees and retirees to receive benefits under an existing plan. A gain of $2.6 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2015 related to the termination of this plan.