Revenue - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	$ 610	$ 667	$ 1,143	$ 1,243
Life Sciences [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	184	196	340	366
Life Sciences [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	59	67	108	126
Life Sciences [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	63	61	112	110
Life Sciences [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	43	48	85	95
Life Sciences [Member] | Latin America & Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	19	20	35	35
Personal Care & Household [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	159	183	296	337
Personal Care & Household [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	50	48	91	91
Personal Care & Household [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	69	86	124	149
Personal Care & Household [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	22	27	46	55
Personal Care & Household [Member] | Latin America & Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	18	22	35	42
Specialty Additives [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	155	169	294	316
Specialty Additives [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	53	57	98	105
Specialty Additives [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	59	62	109	112
Specialty Additives [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	33	39	68	78
Specialty Additives [Member] | Latin America & Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	10	11	19	21
Performance Adhesives [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	85	89	159	171
Performance Adhesives [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	73	75	137	144
Performance Adhesives [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	9	11	16	19
Performance Adhesives [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	1	1	3	3
Performance Adhesives [Member] | Latin America & Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	2	2	3	5
Intermediates and Solvents [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	37	44	64	77
Intermediates and Solvents [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	23	29	37	50
Intermediates and Solvents [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	6	6	11	11
Intermediates and Solvents [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	6	7	13	13
Intermediates and Solvents [Member] | Latin America & Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	$ 2	$ 2	$ 3	$ 3