v2.3.0.15

Cash Convertible Senior Notes and Related Transactions (Tables) | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011
Cash Convertible Senior Notes and Related Transactions [Abstract] |
Principal amount, carrying amount, and interest expense of the notes | The following tables provide additional information regarding the Notes:
| September 30, 2011 |  | December 31, 2010
Principal amount | $ | 175.0 |  |  | $ | 175.0 |
Less: unamortized issuance discount | (28.7 | ) |  | (33.6 | )
Carrying amount, net of discount | $ | 146.3 |  |  | $ | 141.4 |
| Quarter Ended |  | Nine Months Ended
| September 30, |  | September 30,
| 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
Contractual coupon interest | $ | 2.0 |  |  | $ | 1.9 |  |  | $ | 5.9 |  |  | $ | 3.9 |
Amortization of discount and deferred financing costs | 2.0 |  |  | 1.8 |  |  | 5.8 |  |  | 3.6 |
Total interest expense 1 | $ | 4.0 |  |  | $ | 3.7 |  |  | $ | 11.7 |  |  | $ | 7.5 |
______________________
1 | A portion of the interest relating to the Notes is capitalized as Construction in progress.
See “Other” in Note 12 for information relating to the estimated fair value of the Notes.

X
- Details
Name: | kalu_CashConvertibleSeniorNotesAndRelatedTransactionsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | kalu
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Principal amount, carrying amount, and interest expense of the notes. + Details
Name: | kalu_PrincipalAmountCarryingAmountAndInterestExpenseOfNotesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | kalu
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration