Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Selected Financial Information On Product Lines and Reportable Segments (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,404	$ 2,540	$ 2,482	$ 2,289	$ 1,956	$ 2,067	$ 1,982	$ 1,814	$ 9,715	[1]	$ 7,819	[1]	$ 8,012	[1]
Display Technologies [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									3,851		2,545		2,909
Optical Communications [Member] | Carrier Network [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									2,036		1,782		1,619
Optical Communications [Member] | Enterprise Network [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									616		544		511
Optical Communications [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									2,652		2,326		2,130
Environmental Technologies [Member] | Automative and Other [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									528		485		486
Environmental Technologies [Member] | Diesel [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									564		434		478
Environmental Technologies [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									1,092		919		964
Specialty Materials [Member] | Corning Gorilla Glass [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									846		848		1,027
Specialty Materials [Member] | Advanced Optics and Other Specialty Glass [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									359		322		319
Specialty Materials [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									1,205		1,170		1,346
Life Sciences [Member] | Labware [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									536		529		430
Life Sciences [Member] | Cell Culture Products [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									326		322		227
Life Sciences [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									862		851		657
Other Segments [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 53		$ 8		$ 6

[1] Net sales are attributed to countries based on location of customer.