Financial Information By Segment & Geographic Area (Financial Information By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Sep. 30, 2009
Revenues from external customers											$ 3,102	[1]	$ 2,716	[1]	$ 2,108	[1]
Depreciation and amortization											139		137		164
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	2		2	1	3	2		1	1	3	8	[2]	7	[2]	5	[2]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes											203	[3]	166	[3]	(99)	[3]
Assets	3,141	[4]				2,886	[4]				3,141	[4]	2,886	[4]	2,676	[4]
Investment in equity-based affiliates	60					61					60		61		60
Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets											241	[5]	107	[5]	110	[5]
Core Segment [Member]
Revenues from external customers											1,952	[1]	1,660	[1]	1,283	[1]
Depreciation and amortization											80		74		99
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies											7		6		5
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes											183	[3]	139	[3]	21	[3]
Assets	1,509	[4]				1,277	[4]				1,509	[4]	1,277	[4]	1,215	[4]
Investment in equity-based affiliates	50					51					50		51		56
Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets											126	[5]	62	[5]	72	[5]
Performance Segment [Member]
Revenues from external customers											880	[1]	783	[1]	620	[1]
Depreciation and amortization											37		35		46
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies											1		1
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes											140	[3]	125	[3]	25	[3]
Assets	661	[4]				544	[4]				661	[4]	544	[4]	507	[4]
Investment in equity-based affiliates	10					10					10		10		4
Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets											99	[5]	38	[5]	32	[5]
New Business Segment [Member]
Revenues from external customers											117	[1]	105	[1]	70	[1]
Depreciation and amortization											11		10		11
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes											9	[3]	15	[3]	(3)	[3]
Assets	90	[4]				93	[4]				90	[4]	93	[4]	93	[4]
Investment in equity-based affiliates
Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets											7	[5]	3	[5]	4	[5]
Specialty Fluids Segment [Member]
Revenues from external customers											69	[1]	81	[1]	64	[1]
Depreciation and amortization											3		2		2
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes											22	[3]	35	[3]	18	[3]
Assets	101	[4]				95	[4]				101	[4]	95	[4]	78	[4]
Investment in equity-based affiliates
Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets											3	[5]	1	[5]	1	[5]
Segment Total [Member]
Revenues from external customers											3,018	[1]	2,629	[1]	2,037	[1]
Depreciation and amortization											131		121		158
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies											8		7		5
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes											354	[3]	314	[3]	61	[3]
Assets	2,361	[4]				2,009	[4]				2,361	[4]	2,009	[4]	1,893	[4]
Investment in equity-based affiliates	60					61					60		61		60
Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets											235	[5]	104	[5]	109	[5]
Unallocated And Other [Member]
Revenues from external customers											84	[1],[3],[6]	87	[1],[3],[6]	71	[1],[3],[6]
Depreciation and amortization											8	[3],[6]	16	[3],[6]	6	[3],[6]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies												[3],[6]		[3],[6]		[3],[6]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes											(151)	[3],[6]	(148)	[3],[6]	(160)	[3],[6]
Assets	780	[3],[4],[6]				877	[3],[4],[6]				780	[3],[4],[6]	877	[3],[4],[6]	783	[3],[4],[6]
Investment in equity-based affiliates		[3],[6]					[3],[6]					[3],[6]		[3],[6]		[3],[6]
Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets											$ 6	[3],[5],[6]	$ 3	[3],[5],[6]	$ 1	[3],[5],[6]

[1] Unallocated and other reflects royalties paid by equity affiliates, external shipping and handling fees, and the impact of the corporate adjustment for unearned revenue.

[2] Equity in net income of affiliated companies is included in segment EBIT and is removed from Unallocated and other to reconcile to income (loss) from operations before taxes.

[3] Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes for Unallocated and Other includes:

[4] Unallocated and Other assets includes cash, marketable securities, cost investments, income taxes receivable, deferred taxes, headquarters' assets, and Current and Non-current assets held for sale.

[5] Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets include total equity and other investments, property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and assets held for rent.

[6] Unallocated and other includes certain items and eliminations that are not allocated to the operating segments. Management does not consider these items necessary for an understanding of the operating results of these segments and such amounts are excluded in the segment reporting to the Chief Operating Decision Maker.