Revenue Recognition Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 6,297	$ 7,155	$ 6,140
Intersegment [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		(117)	(129)	(112)
Engineered Materials [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		2,386	2,593
Acetate Tow [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		636	649
Acetate Tow [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		0	0	2
Acetyl Chain [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	[1]	3,275	3,913
Acetyl Chain [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		117	129	$ 110
North America [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		735	770
North America [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		125	133
North America [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		1,079	1,145
Europe and Africa | Engineered Materials [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		1,047	1,216
Europe and Africa | Acetate Tow [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		258	260
Europe and Africa | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		1,098	1,236
Asia Pacific [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		533	532
Asia Pacific [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		224	217
Asia Pacific [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		1,013	1,411
South America [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		71	75
South America [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		29	39
South America [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 85	$ 121

[1] Excludes intersegment sales of $117 million and $129 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.