Restructuring and Other Restructuring and Other Reported in Consolidated Statements of Income (Footnote) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Contract Termination
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring items related to exit of business or contract		$ 6,500	$ 14,000	$ 0		$ 23,521	[1]
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	[2]	$ 0
Exit of phosphorus flame retardants business, net of tax	$ 5,400

[1] 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.

[2] 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. In 2012, charges in connection with our exit of the phosphorus flame retardants business were recorded in Restructuring and other, net, on our consolidated statements of income.