Other (Charges) Gains, Net (Schedule of Restructuring Reserves) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Advanced Engineered Materials [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Advanced Engineered Materials [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Consumer Specialties [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Consumer Specialties [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Consumer Specialties [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Industrial Specialties [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Industrial Specialties [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Industrial Specialties [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Acetyl Intermediates [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Acetyl Intermediates [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Acetyl Intermediates [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Other Activities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Other Activities [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Other Activities [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
As of December 31, 2011	$ 41	$ 44	$ 42	$ 2	$ 7	$ 8	$ 0	$ 20	$ 18	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 5	$ 5	$ 1	$ 9	$ 11	$ 1
Additions			1	0		0	0		1	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
Cash payments			(3)	0		(1)	0		0	0		0	0		(1)	0		(1)	0
Other changes			(1)	(1)		0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0		(1)	(1)
Exchange rate changes			1	0		0	0		1	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
As of March 31, 2012	41	44	40	1	7	7	0	20	20	0	0	0	0	5	4	1	9	9	0
Total	$ 41	$ 44	$ 40	$ 1	$ 7	$ 7	$ 0	$ 20	$ 20	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 5	$ 4	$ 1	$ 9	$ 9	$ 0