Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,675		$ 1,753		$ 3,308		$ 3,342
Other (charges) gains, net	(3)		(18)		(3)		(15)
Operating profit (loss)	164		209		262		397
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	62		46		113		89
Depreciation and amortization	75		72		149		144
Capital expenditures	83	[1]	81	[1]	153	[2]	140	[2]
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	940				940				957
Total assets	8,779				8,779				8,518
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures	6		7		30		11
Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	323		346		640		674
Other (charges) gains, net	(2)		(16)		(2)		(29)
Operating profit (loss)	21		27		42		65
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	55		39		98		73
Depreciation and amortization	28		20		55		41
Capital expenditures	10		20		17		37
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	375				375				391
Total assets	2,675				2,675				2,787
Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	327	[3]	291	[3]	591	[4]	557	[4]
Other (charges) gains, net	4		(3)		3		(4)
Operating profit (loss)	75		48		114		102
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	1		0		2		1
Depreciation and amortization	11		13		20		25
Capital expenditures	18		22		34		35
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	272				272				277
Total assets	1,278				1,278				1,154
Inter-segment sales	2		1		3		2
Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	327		329		636		619
Other (charges) gains, net	0		0		0		0
Operating profit (loss)	34		28		53		53
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization	13		12		28		22
Capital expenditures	8		12		16		24
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	70				70				54
Total assets	989				989				901
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	821	[3]	914	[3]	1,673	[4]	1,727	[4]
Other (charges) gains, net	1		2		1		20
Operating profit (loss)	77		152		137		264
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	2		1		3		3
Depreciation and amortization	19		25		39		50
Capital expenditures	44		25		75		40
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	223				223				235
Total assets	2,124				2,124				2,035
Inter-segment sales	121		126		229		234
Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0		0		1
Other (charges) gains, net	(6)		(1)		(5)		(2)
Operating profit (loss)	(43)		(46)		(84)		(87)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	4		6		10		12
Depreciation and amortization	4		2		7		6
Capital expenditures	3		2		11		4
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0				0				0
Total assets	1,713				1,713				1,641
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(123)		(127)		(232)		(236)
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 intangible assets, net	0				0				0
Total assets	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0

[1] Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company’s Ticona plant in Kelsterbach (Note 20) and includes an increase in accrued capital expenditures of $6 million and an increase of $7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[2] 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 $30 million and $11 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[3] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include inter-segment sales of $121 million and $2 million, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and $126 million and $1 million, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2011.

[4] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include inter-segment sales of $229 million and $3 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and $234 million and $2 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2011.