Other (Charges) Gains, Net (Schedule of Restructuring Reserves) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Advanced Engineered Materials [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Advanced Engineered Materials [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer Specialties [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer Specialties [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer Specialties [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Industrial Specialties [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Industrial Specialties [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Industrial Specialties [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Acetyl Intermediates [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Acetyl Intermediates [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Acetyl Intermediates [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other [Member] Employee Termination Benefits [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other [Member] Plant/Office Closures [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
As of December 31, 2011	$ 37	$ 44	$ 42	$ 2	$ 6	$ 8	$ 0	$ 22	$ 18	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 3	$ 5	$ 1	$ 6	$ 11	$ 1
Additions			4	0		0	0		4	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
Cash payments			(9)	0		(2)	0		(1)	0		0	0		(3)	0		(3)	0
Other changes			(2)	(1)		0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0		(2)	(1)
Exchange rate changes			1	0		0	0		1	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
As of September 30, 2012	37	44	36	1	6	6	0	22	22	0	0	0	0	3	2	1	6	6	0
Total	$ 37	$ 44	$ 36	$ 1	$ 6	$ 6	$ 0	$ 22	$ 22	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 3	$ 2	$ 1	$ 6	$ 6	$ 0