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Segment Reporting - Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net Sales $ 460,451us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 477,442us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Surfactants [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net Sales 330,551us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= scl_SurfactantsMember		 335,710us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= scl_SurfactantsMember
Polymers [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net Sales 109,364us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= scl_PolymersMember		 119,107us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= scl_PolymersMember
Specialty Products [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Net Sales $ 20,536us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= scl_SpecialtyProductsMember		 $ 22,625us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= scl_SpecialtyProductsMember