Other (Charges) Gains, Net (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended													1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				62 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2010 Business Optimization [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Business Optimization [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Consumer Specialties [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Acetyl Intermediates [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Activities [Member] Business Optimization [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Cangrejera, Mexico [Member] Acetyl Intermediates [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Pardies, France [Member] Acetyl Intermediates [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Pardies, France [Member] Acetyl Intermediates [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Pardies, France [Member] Acetyl Intermediates [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Shelby, North Carolina [Member] Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Spondon, UK [Member] Consumer Specialties [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Spondon, UK [Member] Consumer Specialties [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Spondon, UK [Member] Consumer Specialties [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Ticona Kelsterbach [Member] Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Ticona Kelsterbach [Member] Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Ticona Kelsterbach [Member] Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Employee termination benefits	$ 22	$ 32	$ 105	$ 11	$ 40			$ 6	$ 1	$ 4	$ 6	$ 60	$ 2		$ 4	$ 15	$ 8	$ 0	$ 8
Resolution of commercial disputes	15	13	0			13
Commercial dispute resolutions, bankrupt supplier							17
Asset impairments		72							1	0	1	12	1	72	0	72
Exit costs										4	12	89			4	87
Contract termination costs										0	3	17
Reindustrialization costs										$ 0	$ 3	$ 0