Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,633		$ 1,589
Other (charges) gains, net	0		3
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	51		43
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	107		180
Depreciation and amortization	74		72
Capital expenditures	70	[1]	59	[1]
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	985				957
Total assets	8,823				8,518
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures	36		18
Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	317		328
Other (charges) gains, net	0		(13)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	43		34
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	64		73
Depreciation and amortization	27		21
Capital expenditures	7		17
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	391				391
Total assets	2,786				2,787
Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	264	[2]	266	[2]
Other (charges) gains, net	(1)		(1)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	1		1
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	40		55
Depreciation and amortization	9		12
Capital expenditures	16		13
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	280				277
Total assets	1,198				1,154
Inter-segment sales	1		1
Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	309		290
Other (charges) gains, net	0		0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	0		0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	19		25
Depreciation and amortization	15		10
Capital expenditures	8		12
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	74				54
Total assets	968				901
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	852	[2]	813	[2]
Other (charges) gains, net	0		18
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	1		2
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	61		114
Depreciation and amortization	20		25
Capital expenditures	31		15
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	240				235
Total assets	2,153				2,035
Inter-segment sales	108		108
Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0		1
Other (charges) gains, net	1		(1)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	6		6
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	(77)		(87)
Depreciation and amortization	3		4
Capital expenditures	8		2
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0				0
Total assets	1,718				1,641
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(109)		(109)
Other (charges) gains, net	0		0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	0		0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0
Capital expenditures	0		0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0				0
Total assets	$ 0				$ 0

[1] Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company’s Ticona plant in Kelsterbach (Note 20) and includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $36 million and $18 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[2] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include inter-segment sales of $108 million and $1 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and $108 million and $1 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2011.