Property, Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation			$ 88,300,000	$ 83,600,000	$ 82,500,000
Interest capitalized on significant capital projects			5,800,000	2,400,000	1,100,000
Cash proceeds from divestitures	7,700,000	8,600,000	9,646,000		8,600,000
Property, plant and equipment under capital lease				24,652,000
Cash proceeds from sale of land	1,900,000
Cash payments related to acquisitions				6,500,000	8,000,000
Building and Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment under capital lease	4,300,000		4,300,000
Machinery and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment under capital lease	20,300,000		20,300,000
Phosphorous Flame Retardant Business Exit
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Phosphorous flame retardants business, net asset write off			57,000,000
Amount of gain related to the sale of Nanjing, China manufacturing site			2,000,000
Phosphorous Flame Retardant Business Exit | Property Plant and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Phosphorous flame retardants business, net asset write off			$ 30,900,000