XML 29 R52.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
claimants
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2014
claimants
Sep. 30, 2013
Environmental Matters [Member]        
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]        
Reserved for environmental matters, on an undiscounted basis $ 17us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= us-gaap_EnvironmentalRestorationCostsMember
  17us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= us-gaap_EnvironmentalRestorationCostsMember
 
Respirator Liabilities [Member]        
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]        
Number of claimants 41,000cbt_NumberOfClaimants
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= cbt_RespiratorLiabilitiesMember
  41,000cbt_NumberOfClaimants
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= cbt_RespiratorLiabilitiesMember
 
Respirator reserve on discounted basis 12us-gaap_LitigationReserve
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= cbt_RespiratorLiabilitiesMember
    13us-gaap_LitigationReserve
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= cbt_RespiratorLiabilitiesMember
Cash payments for respirator reserves 1us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePayments
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= cbt_RespiratorLiabilitiesMember
2us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePayments
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= cbt_RespiratorLiabilitiesMember
   
Maximum [Member] | Environmental Matters [Member]        
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]        
Cash payments for environmental reserves $ 1us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= us-gaap_EnvironmentalRestorationCostsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
$ 1us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis
= us-gaap_EnvironmentalRestorationCostsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember