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Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Goodwill $ 524us-gaap_Goodwill $ 536us-gaap_Goodwill
Value of inventories under FIFO method 46us-gaap_ExcessOfReplacementOrCurrentCostsOverStatedLIFOValue 52us-gaap_ExcessOfReplacementOrCurrentCostsOverStatedLIFOValue
Purification Solutions [Member]    
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Goodwill $ 452us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_PurificationSolutionsMember
$ 458us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_PurificationSolutionsMember
Approximate percentage of fair value of reporting unit exceeds carrying value 9.00%us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_PurificationSolutionsMember
 
Successful realization of its anticipated market share, years 3 years  
Buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Useful life of property, plant and equipment 20 years  
Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Useful life of property, plant and equipment 25 years  
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Useful life of property, plant and equipment 10 years  
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Useful life of property, plant and equipment 25 years  
Other Fixed Assets [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Useful life of property, plant and equipment 3 years  
Other Fixed Assets [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Useful life of property, plant and equipment 25 years