Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 5,674		$ 6,802		$ 6,510
Other (charges) gains, net		(351)		15		(158)
Operating profit (loss)		326		758		1,508
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		181		246		180
Depreciation and amortization		357		292		305
Capital expenditures		483	[1]	681	[1]	408	[2]
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		830		881
Total assets		8,586		8,796
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures		(37)		3		38
Operating Segments [Member] | Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		1,326		1,459		1,352
Other (charges) gains, net		(7)		(1)		(13)
Operating profit (loss)		235		221		904
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		150		161		148
Depreciation and amortization		99		106		110
Capital expenditures		73		65		67
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		338		358
Total assets		2,324		2,484
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[3]	969		1,160		1,214
Other (charges) gains, net		(25)		16		0
Operating profit (loss)		262		388		346
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		2		9		3
Depreciation and amortization		60		43		41
Capital expenditures		65		103		116
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		249		261
Total assets		1,458		1,491
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		1,082		1,224		1,155
Other (charges) gains, net		(10)		(1)		(4)
Operating profit (loss)		72		76		64
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization		64		50		52
Capital expenditures		56		29		33
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		49		54
Total assets		747		823
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[4]	2,744		3,493		3,241
Other (charges) gains, net		(300)		(3)		(141)
Operating profit (loss)		(3)		558		153
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		6		20		5
Depreciation and amortization		123	[5]	81		86
Capital expenditures		282		478		184
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		194		208
Total assets		2,387		2,495
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		0		0		0
Other (charges) gains, net		(9)		4		0
Operating profit (loss)		(240)		(485)		41
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		23		56		24
Depreciation and amortization		11		12		16
Capital expenditures		7		6		8
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		0		0
Total assets		1,670		1,503
Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		(447)		(534)		(452)
Other (charges) gains, net		0		0		0
Operating profit (loss)		0		0		0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization		0		0		0
Capital expenditures		0		0		0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		0		0
Total assets		0		0
Intersegment [Member] | Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		0		2		4
Intersegment [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 447		$ 532		$ 448

[1] Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $37 million and an increase of $3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

[2] Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company's POM operations in Germany (Note 4) and includes an increase in accrued capital expenditures of $38 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.

[3] Includes intersegment sales of $0 million, $2 million and $4 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

[4] Includes intersegment sales of $447 million, $532 million and $448 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

[5] See Note 4 - Acquisitions, Dispositions and Plant Closures for further information.