Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013 Cases
Other Environmental Cleanup Matters
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Accrual for reasonably estimable environmental remediation and related matters	$ 2.0
NL
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 \| Pending Claims \| Product Liability and Occupational Exposure Litigation Claims
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Cases pending	1,125
Number of plaintiffs involved	1,643
NL \| Administratively Dismissed Claims \| Product Liability and Occupational Exposure Litigation Claims
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Number of plaintiffs involved	8,298
NL \| Environmental Remediation Sites Nl Named As Prp Or Defendant
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Accrual for reasonably estimable environmental remediation and related matters	60.0
Number of sites associated with remediation ad related costs	50
Upper end range, estimate costs for remediation and related matters	$ 156
Number of sites for which NL not currently able to estimate costs	5

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the combined total of loss contingency liabilities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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- Definition

Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

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- Definition

The total amount of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency accrual as of the balance sheet date.

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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 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 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.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

Number of Environmental Remediation Sites Without Reasonably Estimable Costs

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Number of Environmental Remediation Sites with Reasonably Estimable Costs

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- Definition

Period by which loss contingency claims settled and dismissed.

+ References

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