Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,653		$ 1,675		$ 3,258		$ 3,308
Other (charges) gains, net	(3)		(3)		(7)		(3)
Operating profit (loss)	169		178	[1]	353		289	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	55		62		109		113
Depreciation and amortization	75		75		151		149
Capital expenditures	93	[2]	83	[2]	150	[3]	153	[3]
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	924				924				942
Total assets	9,322				9,322				9,000
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures	18		6		1		(30)
Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	352		323		681		640
Other (charges) gains, net	(2)		(2)		(4)		(2)
Operating profit (loss)	39		23	[1]	75		47	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	45		55		85		98
Depreciation and amortization	27		28		56		55
Capital expenditures	13		10		21		17
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	362				362				372
Total assets	2,704				2,704				2,703
Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	314	[4]	327	[4]	609	[5]	591	[5]
Other (charges) gains, net	0		4		0		3
Operating profit (loss)	83		77	[1]	161		117	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	1		1		3		2
Depreciation and amortization	10		11		20		20
Capital expenditures	29		18		43		34
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	272				272				276
Total assets	1,375				1,375				1,296
Inter-segment sales	1		2		4		3
Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	295		327		583		636
Other (charges) gains, net	(1)		0		(2)		0
Operating profit (loss)	18		35	[1]	33		55	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization	12		13		24		28
Capital expenditures	6		8		11		16
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	62				62				65
Total assets	1,009				1,009				963
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	809	[4]	821	[4]	1,617	[5]	1,673	[5]
Other (charges) gains, net	0		1		(1)		1
Operating profit (loss)	55		78	[1]	130		140	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	1		2		4		3
Depreciation and amortization	22		19		43		39
Capital expenditures	42		44		71		75
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	228				228				229
Total assets	2,309				2,309				2,238
Inter-segment sales	116		121		228		229
Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0		0		0
Other (charges) gains, net	0		(6)		0		(5)
Operating profit (loss)	(26)		(35)	[1]	(46)		(70)	[1]
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	8		4		17		10
Depreciation and amortization	4		4		8		7
Capital expenditures	3		3		4		11
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0				0				0
Total assets	1,925				1,925				1,800
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(117)		(123)		(232)		(232)
Other (charges) gains, net	0		0		0		0
Operating profit (loss)	0		0	[1]	0		0	[1]
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] As Adjusted (Note 1)

[2] Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company’s polyacetal ("POM") operations in Germany (Note 20) and includes an increase in accrued capital expenditures of $18 million and $6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

[3] Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company’s POM operations in Germany (Note 20) and includes an increase in accrued capital expenditures of $1 million and a decrease of $30 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

[4] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include inter-segment sales of $116 million and $1 million, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and $121 million and $2 million, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2012.

[5] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include inter-segment sales of $228 million and $4 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and $229 million and $3 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2012.