Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,404	$ 1,450
Other (charges) gains, net		(5)	(5)
Operating profit (loss)		287	257
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		38	48
Depreciation and amortization		73	67
Capital expenditures	[1]	58	146
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		847		$ 830
Total assets		8,392		8,586
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures		(12)	(16)
Operating Segments [Member] | Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		350	343
Other (charges) gains, net		(1)	(1)
Operating profit (loss)		88	59
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		31	43
Depreciation and amortization		24	25
Capital expenditures		19	17
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		344		338
Total assets		2,445		2,324
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		244	227
Other (charges) gains, net		0	0
Operating profit (loss)		78	62
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		1	0
Depreciation and amortization		11	11
Capital expenditures		9	26
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		253		249
Total assets		1,471		1,458
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		253	282
Other (charges) gains, net		(1)	(1)
Operating profit (loss)		31	29
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		0	0
Depreciation and amortization		8	10
Capital expenditures		18	6
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		49		49
Total assets		758		747
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[2]	663	713
Other (charges) gains, net		0	(1)
Operating profit (loss)		114	131
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		1	1
Depreciation and amortization		27	19
Capital expenditures		9	96
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		201		194
Total assets		2,360		2,387
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		0	0
Other (charges) gains, net		(3)	(2)
Operating profit (loss)		(24)	(24)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		5	4
Depreciation and amortization		3	2
Capital expenditures		3	1
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		0		0
Total assets		1,358		1,670
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		(106)	(115)
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] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 106	$ 115

[1] Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $12 million and $16 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

[2] Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates includes intersegment sales of $106 million and $115 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.