Restructuring and Other Restructuring and Other Reported in Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	[3]	Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015	[3]	Mar. 31, 2015	[3]	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	[3]	Jun. 30, 2014	[3]	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs																	$ 33,400	$ 0		$ 0		$ 33,361	[1]
Other restructuring costs, net																		0		2,426	[2]	0
Restructuring and other, net	$ 0		$ (6,804)	[3]	$ 0		$ 0		$ 5,322	[3]	$ 293		$ 3,332		$ 17,000	[3]		(6,804)		25,947		33,361
Contract Termination
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring items related to exit of business or contract									$ 6,500						$ 14,000			0		23,521	[4]	0
Phosphorus Flame Retardant Business Exit
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Exit of phosphorus flame retardants business			$ (6,800)															$ (6,804)	[5]	$ 0	[5]	$ 0	[5]

[1] In connection with an announced 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. In the fourth quarter of 2013 we recorded charges of $33.4 million ($21.9 million after income taxes) for termination benefits and other costs related to this workforce reduction plan. Payments under this workforce reduction plan are complete.

[2] The amount for 2014 mainly consists of $3.3 million ($2.1 million after income taxes) recorded in the second quarter for certain multi-product facility project costs that we do not expect to recover in future periods, net of other credits recorded in the fourth quarter.

[3] See Note 21, “Restructuring and Other.”

[4] In 2014, we initiated action to reduce high cost supply capacity of certain aluminum alkyl products, primarily through the termination of a third party manufacturing contract. Based on the contract termination, we estimated costs of approximately $14.0 million ($9.3 million after income taxes) in the first quarter and $6.5 million ($4.3 million after income taxes) in the fourth quarter for contract termination and volume commitments. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2014 we recorded an impairment charge of $3.0 million ($1.9 million after income taxes) for certain capital project costs also related to aluminum alkyls capacity which we do not expect to recover.

[5] In the third quarter of 2015, a gain of $6.8 million ($5.4 million after income taxes) was recognized upon the sale of land in Avonmouth, U.K., which was utilized by the phosphorus flame retardants business we exited in 2012.