Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,851		$ 1,471
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		(55)
Operating profit (loss)		343		170
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		58		47
Depreciation and amortization		79		71
Capital expenditures	[1]	57		41
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		1,443				$ 1,304
Total assets		9,780				9,538
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures		(29)		(21)
Acetate Tow [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		168
Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[2]	272
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[3]	746
Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		665
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		168		191
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		1
Operating profit (loss)		46		62
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		0		0
Depreciation and amortization		10		10
Capital expenditures		0		6
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		155				154
Total assets		1,063				1,163
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[2]	274		245
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		0
Operating profit (loss)		23		25
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		0		0
Depreciation and amortization		9		8
Capital expenditures		4		4
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		46				46
Total assets		834				861
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		871	[2]	619	[4]
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		53
Operating profit (loss)		231		27
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		1		1
Depreciation and amortization		26		26
Capital expenditures		30		20
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		207				202
Total assets		2,680				2,657
Operating Segments [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		665		514
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		0
Operating profit (loss)		127		104
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		54		43
Depreciation and amortization		32		25
Capital expenditures		21		10
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		1,035				902
Total assets		4,111				3,866
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		0		0
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		1
Operating profit (loss)		(83)		(48)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		3		3
Depreciation and amortization		2		2
Capital expenditures		2		1
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		0				0
Total assets		1,092				991
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		(127)		(98)
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		0
Operating profit (loss)		(1)		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] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		2		1
Eliminations [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 125		$ 97

[1] Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $29 million and $21 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

[2] Includes intersegment sales of $2 million and $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

[3] Excludes intersegment sales of $125 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

[4] Includes intersegment sales of $125 million and $97 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.