Restructuring and Other Restructuring and Other Reported in Consolidated Statements of Income (Footnote) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) employee	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of employee reduction | employee					230
Workforce reduction charges					$ 33,400	$ 0		$ 0		$ 33,361	[1]
Workforce reduction charges net of tax					$ 21,900
Impairment of ongoing project			$ 3,300
Impairment of ongoing project, net of tax			$ 2,100
Contract Termination
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring items related to exit of business or contract		$ 6,500		$ 14,000		0		23,521	[2]	0
Restructuring items related to exit of business or contract, net of tax		$ 4,300		9,300
Asset impairment charges				3,000
Asset impairment charges, net of tax				$ 1,900
Phosphorus Flame Retardant Business Exit
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Exit of phosphorus flame retardants business	$ 6,800					$ 6,804	[3]	$ 0	[3]	$ 0	[3]
Exit of phosphorus flame retardants business, net of tax	$ 5,400

[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] 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.

[3] 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.