Goodwill and Other Intangibles Other Intangibles (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning Balance		$ 129,873		$ 200,418
Divestitures	[1]			(68,540)
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	(72,122)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(135,185)		(7,233)
Gross Asset Value, Ending Balance		1,881,718		129,873		$ 200,418
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning Balance		(85,748)		(112,215)
Amortization		(77,282)		(5,737)		(8,100)
Removal of Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets From Impairment	[1]			27,584
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	5,798
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		8,561		4,620
Accumulated Amortization, Ending Balance		(148,671)		(85,748)		(112,215)
Net Book Value		1,733,047		44,125
Customer Lists and Relationships
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning Balance		48,479		86,426
Divestitures				(34,892)
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	(16,608)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(88,092)		(3,055)
Gross Asset Value, Ending Balance		1,284,057		48,479		86,426
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning Balance		(22,931)		(35,988)
Amortization		(51,926)		(2,839)
Removal of Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets From Impairment				14,487
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	596
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		2,303		1,409
Accumulated Amortization, Ending Balance		(71,958)		(22,931)		(35,988)
Net Book Value		1,212,099		25,548
Trademarks and Trade Names
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning Balance		17,555	[3]	26,907
Divestitures				(8,171)
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(25,468)		(1,181)
Gross Asset Value, Ending Balance		355,207	[3]	17,555	[3]	26,907
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning Balance		(7,912)		(8,970)
Amortization		(12,228)		(824)
Removal of Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets From Impairment				1,539
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		381		343
Accumulated Amortization, Ending Balance		(19,759)		(7,912)		(8,970)
Net Book Value		335,448		9,643
Patents and Technology
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning Balance		40,398		48,743
Divestitures				(11,316)
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	(54,060)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(15,508)		(2,257)
Gross Asset Value, Ending Balance		200,101		40,398		48,743
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning Balance		(32,831)		(40,354)
Amortization		(12,501)		(388)
Removal of Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets From Impairment				5,738
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	3,880
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		1,675		2,173
Accumulated Amortization, Ending Balance		(39,777)		(32,831)		(40,354)
Net Book Value		160,324		7,567
Other
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Gross Asset Value, Beginning Balance		23,441		38,342
Divestitures				(14,161)
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	(1,454)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		(6,117)		(740)
Gross Asset Value, Ending Balance		42,353	[4]	23,441		38,342
Accumulated Amortization, Beginning Balance		(22,074)		(26,903)
Amortization		(627)		(1,686)
Removal of Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets From Impairment				5,820
Reclass to assets held for sale	[2]	1,322
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other		4,202		695
Accumulated Amortization, Ending Balance		(17,177)		(22,074)		(26,903)
Net Book Value		25,176		1,367
Antioxidant, Ibuprofen and Propofol Assets
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Divestitures				(68,500)
Amortization				(900)		$ (3,500)
Removal of Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets From Impairment				27,600
Cambridge Chemical Company
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	[5]			5,228
Cambridge Chemical Company | Customer Lists and Relationships
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				0
Cambridge Chemical Company | Trademarks and Trade Names
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				0
Cambridge Chemical Company | Patents and Technology
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	[5]			5,228
Cambridge Chemical Company | Other
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				$ 0
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		1,881,594
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Customer Lists and Relationships
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		1,264,226
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Trademarks and Trade Names
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		363,120
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Patents and Technology
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		227,838
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Other
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		26,410
Other significant projects
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	[6]	77,558
Other significant projects | Customer Lists and Relationships
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	[6]	76,052
Other significant projects | Trademarks and Trade Names
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	[6]	0
Other significant projects | Patents and Technology
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	[6]	1,433
Other significant projects | Other
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	[6]	$ 73

[1] In 2014 we reduced intangible assets by $68.5 million and related accumulated amortization by $27.6 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] Included in Trade Names and Trademarks are indefinite-lived intangible assets with a gross carrying amount of $9.2 million and $113.1 million at December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

[4] Included in Other is an indefinite-lived intangible asset with a gross carrying amount of $21.9 million at December 31, 2015.

[5] Increase in Patents and Technology relates to a purchase accounting adjustment in connection with our acquisition of Cambridge Chemical Company, Ltd.

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