Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,605		$ 1,633
Other (charges) gains, net	(4)		0
Operating profit (loss)	184		111	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	54		51
Depreciation and amortization	76		74
Capital expenditures	57	[2]	70	[2]
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	917				942
Total assets	9,068				9,000
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures	(17)		(36)
Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	329		317
Other (charges) gains, net	(2)		0
Operating profit (loss)	36		24	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	40		43
Depreciation and amortization	29		27
Capital expenditures	8		7
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	361				372
Total assets	2,670				2,703
Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	295	[3]	264	[3]
Other (charges) gains, net	0		(1)
Operating profit (loss)	78		40	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	2		1
Depreciation and amortization	10		9
Capital expenditures	14		16
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	271				276
Total assets	1,338				1,296
Inter-segment sales	3		1
Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	288		309
Other (charges) gains, net	(1)		0
Operating profit (loss)	15		20	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	12		15
Capital expenditures	5		8
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	62				65
Total assets	998				963
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	808	[3]	852	[3]
Other (charges) gains, net	(1)		0
Operating profit (loss)	75		62	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	3		1
Depreciation and amortization	21		20
Capital expenditures	29		31
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	223				229
Total assets	2,265				2,238
Inter-segment sales	112		108
Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0
Other (charges) gains, net	0		1
Operating profit (loss)	(20)		(35)	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	9		6
Depreciation and amortization	4		3
Capital expenditures	1		8
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0				0
Total assets	1,797				1,800
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(115)		(109)
Other (charges) gains, net	0		0
Operating profit (loss)	0		0	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0
Capital expenditures	0		0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0				0
Total assets	$ 0				$ 0

[1] As Adjusted (Note 1)

[2] Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company’s POM operations in Germany (Note 20) and includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $17 million and $36 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

[3] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include inter-segment sales of $112 million and $3 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and $108 million and $1 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2012.