Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 12, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 2,893,811	$ 243,262	$ 284,203
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total purchase price	$ 5,725,321
Cash and cash equivalents	1,555,139
Trade and other accounts receivable	262,947
Inventories	290,326
Other current assets	86,267
Property, plant and equipment	1,377,249
Investments	529,453
Other assets	25,538
Current liabilities	(406,513)
Long-term debt	(1,319,132)
Pension benefits	(316,086)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(195,052)
Deferred income taxes	(845,965)
Noncontrolling interests	(17,582)
Total identifiable net assets	2,908,186
Goodwill	2,817,135
Total net assets acquired	5,725,321
Pro forma Net sales		3,684,665	3,870,428
Pro forma Net income from continuing operations		$ 527,997	$ 353,313
Pro forma Net income from continuing operations per share, basic		$ 4.75	$ 3.13
Pro forma Net income from continuing operations per share, diluted		$ 4.73	$ 3.12
Patents and Technology | Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets	227,840
Trademarks and Trade Names | Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets	258,740
Customer Lists and Relationships | Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets	1,264,227
Trademarks and Trade Names | Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	104,380
Other | Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	$ 26,410