Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,687	$ 1,851
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		4	0
Operating profit (loss)		320	343
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		50	58
Depreciation and amortization		83	79
Capital expenditures	[1]	54	57
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		1,407		$ 1,367
Total assets		9,574		9,313
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures		(25)	(29)
Acetate Tow [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		166	168
Acetyl Chain [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[2]	858	1,018
Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		663	665
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		166	168
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0	0
Operating profit (loss)		40	46
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		0	0
Depreciation and amortization		10	10
Capital expenditures		8	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		153		153
Total assets		1,046		1,032
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		889	1,051
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0	0
Operating profit (loss)		202	253
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		1	1
Depreciation and amortization		38	35
Capital expenditures		26	34
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		236		240
Total assets		3,520		3,471
Operating Segments [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		663	665
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		15	0
Operating profit (loss)		144	127
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		46	54
Depreciation and amortization		32	32
Capital expenditures		16	21
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		1,018		974
Total assets		3,578		4,012
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		0	0
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		(11)	0
Operating profit (loss)		(66)	(83)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		3	3
Depreciation and amortization		3	2
Capital expenditures		4	2
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		0		0
Total assets		1,430		798
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[3]	(31)	(33)
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		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 Chain [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 31	$ 33

[1] Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $25 million and $29 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[2] Excludes intersegment sales of $31 million and $33 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[3] Includes intersegment sales primarily related to the Acetyl Chain.