Goodwill and Other Intangibles Changes in Goodwill by Operating Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		$ 243,262	$ 284,203
Divestitures	[1]		(15,088)
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	(46,794)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(143,785)	(25,853)
Goodwill, Ending Balance		2,893,811	243,262
Performance Chemicals
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		42,016	42,025
Divestitures			0
Reclass to assets held for sale		0
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(47,659)	(9)
Goodwill, Ending Balance		1,287,824	42,016
Refining Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		192,657	218,382
Divestitures			0
Reclass to assets held for sale		0
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(19,929)	(25,725)
Goodwill, Ending Balance		172,728	192,657
Chemetall Surface Treatment
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		0	0
Divestitures			0
Reclass to assets held for sale		0
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(73,251)	0
Goodwill, Ending Balance		1,433,259	0
All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		8,589	23,796
Divestitures	[1]		(15,088)
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	(46,794)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(2,946)	(119)
Goodwill, Ending Balance		0	8,589
Antioxidant, Ibuprofen and Propofol Assets
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Divestitures			$ (15,100)
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill		2,817,135
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Performance Chemicals
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill		1,293,467
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Refining Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill		0
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Chemetall Surface Treatment
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill		1,482,517
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill		41,151
Other significant projects
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill	[3]	23,993
Other significant projects | Performance Chemicals
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill		0
Other significant projects | Refining Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill		0
Other significant projects | Chemetall Surface Treatment
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill	[3]	23,993
Other significant projects | All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of goodwill		$ 0

[1] In 2014, we reduced goodwill by $15.1 million in connection with the sale of our antioxidant, ibuprofen and propofol businesses and assets which closed on September 1, 2014. See Note 3 “Divestitures” for additional information about this transaction.

[2] See Note 3, “Divestitures.”

[3] Primarily relates to the acquisition of the remaining interest in Shanghai Chemetall. See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”