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Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Contran \| Intercorporate Services Agreements Fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction	$ 40,000,000	$ 36,500,000	$ 35,800,000
Contran \| Combined Information Technology Data Recovery Program
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction	258,000	253,000	298,000
Contran \| Pledge Fee Received
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue and other income from related party transactions	2,800,000	$ 1,200,000	800,000
Contran \| Tremont \| Deferred Payment \| Present Value
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, estimated exposure	9,300,000
Contran \| Tremont \| Deferred Payment \| Face Value
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, estimated exposure	11,100,000
Contran \| Tremont \| Promissory Notes
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, estimated exposure	$ 13,100,000
Contran \| Kronos Worldwide, Inc. \| Securities Pledged as Collateral
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock pledged as collateral	30.2	30.2
Contran \| Waste Control Specialists \| Performance Guarantee
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, estimated exposure	$ 3,900,000	$ 3,900,000	3,900,000
Contran \| Revolving Credit Facility
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest on borrowings under credit facilities	14,400,000	12,900,000	10,300,000
Contran \| Letter Of Credit \| Waste Control Specialists
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, maximum exposure	6,300,000
Costs related to the Letter of Credit	100,000	100,000	100,000
Contran and Other Affiliates
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction cash received for insurance premium	5,900,000	5,300,000	5,400,000
LPC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Purchase of Ti02 from LPC	157,500,000	157,500,000	176,500,000
Sales of feedstock ore to LPC	$ 79,400,000	$ 68,800,000	$ 80,600,000