Segment Information (Schedule of Business Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,586		$ 1,771		$ 4,865		$ 5,466
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		(7)		12		(101)		9
Operating profit (loss)		(260)		(374)		(766)		(1,075)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		45		66		134		180
Depreciation and amortization		94		90		261		255
Capital expenditures		87	[1]	75	[1]	215	[2]	220	[2]
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		1,368				1,368				$ 1,367
Total assets		9,414				9,414				9,313
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital expenditures		5		(4)		(11)		(24)
Acetate Tow [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		158		158		488		488
Acetyl Chain [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	[3]	837		971		2,530		3,007
Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		591		642		1,847		1,971
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		158		158		488		488
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		(3)		(1)		(87)		(2)
Operating profit (loss)		(34)		(26)		(30)		(111)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization		14		21		35		44
Capital expenditures		9		9		28		19
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		152				152				153
Total assets		967				967				1,032
Operating Segments [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		867		1,006		2,621		3,106
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		12		(1)		10
Operating profit (loss)		(180)		(287)		(570)		(813)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		1		2		3		5
Depreciation and amortization		43		36		119		107
Capital expenditures		47		39		108		122
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		228				228				240
Total assets		3,448				3,448				3,471
Operating Segments [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		591		642		1,847		1,971
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		(1)		0		6		0
Operating profit (loss)		(111)		(124)		(358)		(365)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		41		62		123		169
Depreciation and amortization		33		31		96		96
Capital expenditures		23		25		60		72
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		988				988				974
Total assets		4,081				4,081				4,012
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		0		0		0		0
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		(3)		1		(19)		1
Operating profit (loss)		65		63		192		214
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates		3		2		8		6
Depreciation and amortization		4		2		11		8
Capital expenditures		8		2		19		7
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		0				0				0
Total assets		918				918				798
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		(30)	[4]	(35)	[4]	(91)	[5]	(99)	[5]
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)		0		0		0		0
Operating profit (loss)		0		0		0		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] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 30		$ 35		$ 91		$ 99

[1] Includes an increase in accrued capital expenditures of $5 million and a decrease of $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[2] Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $11 million and $24 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[3] Excludes intersegment sales of $30 million and $35 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Excludes intersegment sales of $91 million and $99 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

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

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