Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,450		$ 1,705
Other (charges) gains, net	(5)		(1)
Operating profit (loss)	257		243
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	48		40
Depreciation and amortization	67		75
Capital expenditures	146	[1]	118	[1]
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	823				881
Total assets	8,626				8,818
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures	(16)		(30)
Operating Segments [Member] | Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	343		373
Other (charges) gains, net	(1)		0
Operating profit (loss)	59		57
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	43		33
Depreciation and amortization	25		26
Capital expenditures	17		9
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	340				358
Total assets	2,375				2,484
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	227	[2]	302	[2]
Other (charges) gains, net	0		0
Operating profit (loss)	62		99
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	0		1
Depreciation and amortization	11		11
Capital expenditures	26		28
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	248				261
Total assets	1,461				1,491
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	282		312
Other (charges) gains, net	(1)		0
Operating profit (loss)	29		20
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	10		14
Capital expenditures	6		4
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	50				54
Total assets	826				823
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	713	[2]	841	[2]
Other (charges) gains, net	(1)		0
Operating profit (loss)	131		97
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	1		1
Depreciation and amortization	19		21
Capital expenditures	96		76
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	185				208
Total assets	2,489				2,495
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0
Other (charges) gains, net	(2)		(1)
Operating profit (loss)	(24)		(30)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	4		5
Depreciation and amortization	2		3
Capital expenditures	1		1
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0				0
Total assets	1,475				1,525
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(115)		(123)
Other (charges) gains, net	0		0
Operating profit (loss)	0		0
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
Eliminations [Member] | Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0
Eliminations [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 115		$ 123

[1] Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $16 million and $30 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

[2] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include intersegment sales of $115 million and $0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and $123 million and $0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014.