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Divestitures Divestitures - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 14, 2016 | Feb. 01, 2016 | Jan. 04, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6,857 | $ 310,599 |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  | $ 0 |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | 122,298 |
Chemetall Surface Treatment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net | $ 3,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Working capital settlement |  |  |  |  | $ 6,900 |  |  |  |
Metal Sulfides Business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net |  |  | $ 137,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 11,500
Mineral Flame Retardants and Specialty Chemicals Businesses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net |  | $ 187,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 112,300
Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate | Wafer Reclaim |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,500) |
United States | Chemetall Surface Treatment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discrete non-cash (charge) benefit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (381,500) |
Foreign | Chemetall Surface Treatment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discrete non-cash (charge) benefit |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,400 |  | $ (29,800) |

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