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Commitments and contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2013 Cases
Other Environmental Cleanup Matters [Member] |
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items] |
Accrual for other environmental cleanup matters | 2.1
NL [Member] |
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items] |
Number of cases settled and dismissed and found not liable | 100
Period by which loss contingency claims settled and dismissed | 20 years
NL [Member] | Pending Claims [Member] | Product Liability and Occupational Exposure Litigation Claims [Member] |
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items] |
Type of cases pending | 1,125
Number of plaintiffs involved | 1,643
NL [Member] | Administratively Dismissed Claims [Member] | Product Liability and Occupational Exposure Litigation Claims [Member] |
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items] |
Number of plaintiffs involved | 8,298
NL [Member] | Environmental Remediation Sites Nl Named As Prp Or Defendant [Member] |
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items] |
Accrual for other environmental cleanup matters | 48.0
Number of sites associated with remediation ad related costs | 50
Upper end range, estimate costs for remediation and related matters | 139
Number of sites for which NL not currently able to estimate costs | 5

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- Definition The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the combined total of loss contingency liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition The number of claims settled and dismissed during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The total amount of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency accrual as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 14 -Paragraph 3 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
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- Definition Number of Environmental Remediation Sites Without Reasonably Estimable Costs + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of Environmental Remediation Sites with Reasonably Estimable Costs + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Period by which loss contingency claims settled and dismissed. + References No definition available. + Details
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