Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges (in Dollars)	$ 17
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions (in Dollars)		(54)
Other Segments [Member]
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions (in Dollars)		(54)
Display Technologies [Member]
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges (in Dollars)	5
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales	4
Percent of Total Segment Sales	72.00%
Optical Communications [Member]
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges (in Dollars)	12
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales	0
Environmental Technologies [Member]
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales	3
Percent of Total Segment Sales	88.00%
Specialty Materials [Member]
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales	3
Percent of Total Segment Sales	50.00%
Life Sciences [Member]
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales	2
Percent of Total Segment Sales	43.00%
Dow Corning Corporation [Member] | Equity Investment [Member]
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges (in Dollars)	2
Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain on Derivative (in Dollars)	$ 32