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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2013 Chemical Segment | Dec. 31, 2012 Chemical Segment | Dec. 31, 2011 Chemical Segment | Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum | Dec. 31, 2013 Contran | Dec. 31, 2012 Contran | Dec. 31, 2011 Contran | Feb. 28, 2014 Contran Subsequent Event | Feb. 28, 2014 Contran Subsequent Event Minimum
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Controlling interest in subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 94.00% |  |  |  |
Common stock, voting rights |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | The voting agreement expires in February 2017 (unless Ms. Lisa Simmons, Ms. Connelly and Ms. Annette Simmons otherwise mutually agree), and the ability of Ms. Lisa Simmons, Ms. Connelly, and Ms. Annette Simmons to each designate one member of the Contran board is dependent upon each of their continued beneficial ownership of at least 5% of the combined voting stock of Contran. |
Voting agreement expiration date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2017-02 |
Percentage of voting stock ownership required to designate a board member |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00%
Percentage of investment required to report under equity method investment |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized interest cost on property and equipment | $ 1.6 | $ 1.7 | $ 3.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net cash payments received from/paid to tax group parent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.5 | 6.0 | 10.3 |  |
Earnings of foreign subsidiaries subject to permanent reinvestment plan | 900.0 | 1,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of likelihood for recognition of uncertain tax positions | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shipping and handling costs |  |  |  | 93 | 89 | 93 |  |  |  |  |  |
Advertising costs | 2 | 1 | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Research, development and certain sales technical support costs | $ 18 | $ 19 | $ 20 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 720 -SubTopic 35 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848 + Details
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- Definition Description of voting rights of common stock. Includes eligibility to vote and votes per share owned. Include also, if any, unusual voting rights. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644 + Details
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