Investments in Associated Companies - Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Nippon Quaker (Japan) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Kelko (Venezuela) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kelko (Venezuela) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kelko (Panama) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 TQM (Mexico) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Primex (Barbados) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Primex (Barbados) [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments Line Items
Equity Method Investment Ownership Percentage												50.00%		50.00%	50.00%			32.00%
Change in Accounting Principle, Description									In 1986, the market for general liability insurance became highly volatile and there was limited product liability insurance for chemical companies to purchase. In response, the Company joined together with fifteen other chemical companies, each putting forward $0.5 million as capital, to form a captive insurance company, Primex, Ltd. (“Primex”). Primex was incorporated in Barbados and operates under the provisions of the Exempt Insurance Act of 1983, and provides excess liability insurance coverage only to its shareholders who are in chemical and chemical related manufacturing industries. Primex utilizes leading service providers for insurance, actuarial, accounting and legal services. Since 1986, many of the original investors have exited Primex, either through acquisitions or divestitures. To date, companies that have ceased to purchase insurance from Primex have sold their share shares back to Primex. Each current shareholder has one representative on Primex’s board of directors, each having an equal vote on operational and financial matters. As a result of one of those shareholders exiting Primex in 2012, the Company reassessed its ability to significantly influence the operating and financial policies of Primex. Based on its ownership percentage and other factors, the Company determined that during 2012 the Company obtained the ability to significantly influence Primex and, as a result, needed to change its method of accounting for Primex from the cost method to the equity method. In accordance with the guidance of the FASB, the equity method of accounting must be applied on a retrospective basis, and all periods presented must be recast to reflect the change in the method of accounting. Consequently, the Company has recast its Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011, the Consolidated Statements of Income, Other Comprehensive Income and Cash Flows for the years ending December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011 and the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the years ending December 31, 2009, December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011 and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The change in the method of accounting results in an increase of previously reported net income and earnings per share for the years ending December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 of $2,323, or $0.19 per diluted share ,and $313, or $0.03 per diluted share, respectively.
Impact of Change in Accounting Method on Net Income	$ 439	$ 568	$ 419	$ 600	$ 584	$ 713	$ 426			$ 2,323	$ 313
Impact of Change in Accounting Method on Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.03	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	$ 0.05	$ 0.04	$ 0.06	$ 0.03			$ 0.19	$ 0.03
Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired																60.00%
Inflationary Percentage								100.00%			100.00%
Effect Of Currency Devaluation Per Diluted Share											$ 0.03
Description Of Foreign Currency Devaluation Effects													On February 9, 2013, the Venezuelan Government announced a further devaluation of the Bolivar Fuerte. Accordingly, the Company currently estimates that it will record a charge of approximately $0.03 per diluted share during the first quarter of 2013.
Immaterial Error Correction											During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company identified errors in reserves for pension and certain other items at its Tecniquimia Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. affiliate. The affiliate adjusted for these items in the fourth quarter of 2010, which had the effect of reducing equity in net income of associated companies and net income by $564 in the fourth quarter and year-to-date periods of 2010. The Company believes this adjustment was not material to its Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2007, December 31, 2008, December 31, 2009 or December 31, 2010 and, therefore, did not restate any prior period amounts.
Amount of Immaterial Misstatement								564			564
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions																	$ 2,000