Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net sales $ 1,769 $ 1,636 $ 5,243 $ 4,894  
Other (charges) gains, net 20 (4) 21 (11)  
Operating profit (loss) 310 211 812 564  
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 52 41 193 150  
Depreciation and amortization 73 76 220 227  
Capital expenditures 203 [1] 102 [2] 452 [3] 252 [4]  
Goodwill and intangibles, net 887   887   940
Total assets 9,710   9,710   9,018
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures 12 (8) (12) (7)  
Operating Segments [Member] | Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net sales 366 346 1,128 1,027  
Other (charges) gains, net 0 (2) (1) (6)  
Operating profit (loss) 51 48 164 123  
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 43 30 121 115  
Depreciation and amortization 27 27 80 83  
Capital expenditures 23 14 43 35  
Goodwill and intangibles, net 350   350   368
Total assets 2,544   2,544   2,643
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Specialties [Member]
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net sales 291 [5] 310 [5] 882 [6] 919 [6]  
Other (charges) gains, net 16 0 16 0  
Operating profit (loss) 105 85 284 246  
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 0 0 8 3  
Depreciation and amortization 11 10 32 30  
Capital expenditures 22 33 72 76  
Goodwill and intangibles, net 266   266   278
Total assets 1,498   1,498   1,478
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net sales 314 299 959 882  
Other (charges) gains, net (1) (1) (1) (3)  
Operating profit (loss) 16 24 60 57  
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 0 0 0 0  
Depreciation and amortization 12 13 38 37  
Capital expenditures 7 8 17 19  
Goodwill and intangibles, net 54   54   60
Total assets 951   951   1,002
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net sales 937 [5] 795 [5] 2,679 [6] 2,412 [6]  
Other (charges) gains, net 5 (1) 7 (2)  
Operating profit (loss) 174 67 413 197  
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 2 3 17 7  
Depreciation and amortization 21 22 61 65  
Capital expenditures 150 45 316 116  
Goodwill and intangibles, net 217   217   234
Total assets 2,488   2,488   2,333
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net sales 0 0 0 0  
Other (charges) gains, net 0 0 0 0  
Operating profit (loss) (36) (13) (109) (59)  
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 7 8 47 25  
Depreciation and amortization 2 4 9 12  
Capital expenditures 1 2 4 6  
Goodwill and intangibles, net 0   0   0
Total assets 2,229   2,229   1,562
Eliminations [Member]
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net sales (139) (114) (405) (346)  
Other (charges) gains, net 0 0 0 0  
Operating profit (loss) 0 0 0 0  
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 0 0 0 0  
Depreciation and amortization 0 0 0 0  
Capital expenditures 0 0 0 0  
Goodwill and intangibles, net 0   0   0
Total assets 0   0   0
Eliminations [Member] | Consumer Specialties [Member]
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net sales 2 0 2 4  
Eliminations [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net sales $ 137 $ 114 $ 403 $ 342  
[1] Includes an increase in accrued capital expenditures of $12 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014.
[2] Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company's POM operations in Germany and includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013.
[3] Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $12 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
[4] Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company's POM operations in Germany and includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
[5] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include intersegment sales of $137 million and $2 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $114 million and $0 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2013.
[6] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include intersegment sales of $403 million and $2 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and $342 million and $4 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.