Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Union Carbide Corporation's Stockholder's Equity [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax [Member]	Cumulative translation adjustments [Member]	Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	Accumulated Investment Gain [Member]	Accumulated derivative loss [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2008			$ 0	$ 312	$ 6,094		$ (61)	$ (783)	$ 1	$ (1)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests											1
Net Income	696				696
Dividends declared					(660)
Other					1
Translation adjustment	0						0
Net prior service credit								3
Net loss								(170)
Net investment results	0								0
Net hedging results	1									1
Total Equity at Dec. 31, 2009	5,434
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2009		5,433	0	312	6,131	(1,010)	(61)	(950)	1	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests	2										2
Net Income	459				459
Dividends declared					(600)
Other					0
Translation adjustment	6						6
Net prior service credit								3
Net loss								(24)
Net investment results	(1)								(1)
Net hedging results	0									0
Total Equity at Dec. 31, 2010	5,278
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2010	5,276	5,276	0	312	5,990	(1,026)	(55)	(971)	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests	2										2
Net Income	215				215
Dividends declared					(951)
Other					(1)
Translation adjustment	3						3
Net prior service credit								3
Net loss								(112)
Net investment results	0								0
Net hedging results	0									0
Total Equity at Dec. 31, 2011	4,435
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 4,433	$ 4,433	$ 0	$ 312	$ 5,253	$ (1,132)	$ (52)	$ (1,080)	$ 0	$ 0