Postemployment benefit plans (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2012 U.S. Pension Benefits	Aug. 31, 2010 U.S. Pension Benefits	Feb. 29, 2012 Non-U.S. Pension Benefits	Feb. 29, 2012 Other Postretirement Benefits
Amendments to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Increase (decrease) in postemployment benefit liability due to plan remeasurement	$ 243	$ 1,320
Decrease (increase) in accumulated other comprehensive income	153	831
Net curtailment loss (gain) for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans	7	28		(37)
Defined benefit plan loss of third party receivable				21
Special termination benefits for statutory pension benefits			10
Net loss (gain) due to facility closure				$ (6)

The amount of increase or decrease in the accumulated benefit obligation related to the effects of a change in the substantive terms of an existing defined benefit pension plan or the initiation of a new plan. A plan amendment may increase or decrease benefits, including those attributed to years of service already rendered.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 60

-Glossary Plan Amendment

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6520743

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 87

-Paragraph 264

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Number 106

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Glossary Plan Amendment

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6520782

+ Details

- Definition

The amount of net gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit cost as a result of an event that significantly reduces the expected years of future service of present employees or eliminates for a significant number of employees the accrual of defined benefits for some or all of their future services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph h

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Plan Curtailment

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6520938

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 87

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

The amount of increase related to special termination benefits offered to and accepted by employees in connection with their termination of employment that are only offered for a short period of time. A situation involving termination benefits may also involve a curtailment.

+ References+ Details