Financial Information by Segment - Schedule of Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes and Equity in Earnings of Affiliated Companies for Unallocated and Other (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ (13)	$ (14)	$ (25)	$ (28)
Global restructuring activities	(1)	(5)	(4)	(13)
Unallocated and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	(13)	(14)	(25)	(28)
Unallocated corporate costs	(16)	(12)	(29)	(22)
General unallocated income (expense)			(5)	(1)
Less: Equity in earnings of affiliated companies, net of tax	1	1	1	1
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliated companies	(31)	(83)	(72)	(119)
Certain Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Employee benefit plan settlement and other charges	1	(1)	(5)	(3)
Global restructuring activities	(1)	(5)	(4)	(13)
Acquisition and integration-related charges	(1)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Legal and environmental matters and reserves		(51)		(50)
Indirect tax settlement credits		3		3
Other			(1)	(1)
Total certain items, pre-tax	$ (1)	(56)	$ (12)	(67)
Specialty Fluids [Member] | Certain Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Loss on sale and asset impairment charge		$ (1)		$ (1)