Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017		Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,771		$ 1,566		$ 5,466		$ 4,547
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		12		0		9		(57)
Operating profit (loss)		374		229		1,075		617
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		66		50		180		135
Depreciation and amortization		90		80		255		226
Capital expenditures		75	[1]	74	[1]	220	[2]	173	[2]
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		1,381				1,381				$ 1,304
Total assets		9,824				9,824				9,538
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures		(4)		10		(24)		(7)
Acetate Tow [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		158				488
Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[3]	273				832
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[4]	698				2,175
Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		642				1,971
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		158		157		488		511
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		(1)		0		(2)		(2)
Operating profit (loss)		26		45		111		148
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization		21		10		44		30
Capital expenditures		9		9		19		22
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		154				154				154
Total assets		1,078				1,078				1,163
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		273	[5]	264	[5]	835	[6]	771	[6]
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		(1)		0		(3)		0
Operating profit (loss)		19		19		64		70
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization		10		10		29		28
Capital expenditures		5		6		14		16
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		44				44				46
Total assets		850				850				861
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		835	[7]	684	[7]	2,567	[8]	1,952	[8]
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		13		0		(13)		50
Operating profit (loss)		268		128		750		264
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		2		1		5		4
Depreciation and amortization		26		26		78		78
Capital expenditures		34		36		108		84
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		199				199				202
Total assets		2,719				2,719				2,657
Operating Segments [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		642		573		1,971		1,633
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		0		0		2
Operating profit (loss)		124		105		365		314
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		62		47		169		128
Depreciation and amortization		31		30		96		82
Capital expenditures		25		19		72		43
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		984				984				902
Total assets		4,056				4,056				3,866
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		0		0		0		0
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		1		0		(1)		3
Operating profit (loss)		(63)		(68)		(214)		(179)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		2		2		6		3
Depreciation and amortization		2		4		8		8
Capital expenditures		2		4		7		8
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		0				0				0
Total assets		1,121				1,121				991
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		(137)		(112)		(395)		(320)
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		0		0		0
Operating profit (loss)		0		0		(1)		0
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
Eliminations [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		0		1		3		3
Eliminations [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 137		$ 111		$ 392		$ 317

[1] Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $4 million and an increase of $10 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

[2] Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $24 million and $7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

[3] Excludes intersegment sales of $0 million and $3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

[4] Excludes intersegment sales of $137 million and $392 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

[5] Includes intersegment sales of $0 million and $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

[6] Includes intersegment sales of $3 million and $3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

[7] Includes intersegment sales of $137 million and $111 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

[8] Includes intersegment sales of $392 million and $317 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.