Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		130 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 12, 2013	Apr. 16, 2000
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	$ 94,000,000	$ 86,000,000
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation	300,000,000		300,000,000	287,000,000
Number of Hazardous Waste Sites	15		15
Environmental Cleanup And Related Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies	41,000,000		41,000,000	43,000,000
Commercial Creditors [Member] | Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	100,000,000
Commercial Creditors [Member] | Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Minimum	100,000,000		100,000,000
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum	328,000,000		328,000,000
Contingent Guarantees [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	178,000,000		178,000,000	150,000,000
First Payment [Member] | Amended Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Plan [Member] | Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Required Payments Per Reorganization Plan					70,000,000
First Subsequent Anniversary [Member] | Amended Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Plan [Member] | Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Required Payments Per Reorganization Plan					35,000,000
Second Subsequent Anniversary [Member] | Amended Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Plan [Member] | Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Required Payments Per Reorganization Plan					50,000,000
Third Subsequent Anniversary [Member] | Amended Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Plan [Member] | Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Required Payments Per Reorganization Plan					35,000,000
Fourth Subsequent Anniversary [Member] | Amended Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Plan [Member] | Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Required Payments Per Reorganization Plan					50,000,000
Fifth Subsequent Anniversary [Member] | Amended Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Plan [Member] | Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Required Payments Per Reorganization Plan					50,000,000
Dow Corning Corporation [Member] | Dow Chemical Company [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Pittsburgh Corning Corporation (PCC) [Member] | Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number						11,800
Pittsburgh Corning Corporation (PCC) [Member] | PPG Industries, Inc. [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Pittsburgh Corning Corporation (PCC) [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Equity Method Investments						0
Pittsburgh Corning Europe (PCE) [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	242,000,000		242,000,000	241,000,000
Equity Method Investments	145,000,000		145,000,000	162,000,000
Amended Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Plan [Member] | Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Required Payments Per Reorganization Plan					290,000,000
Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Asbestos Settlement (Credit) Charge	1,000,000	2,000,000
Non-PCC Asbestos Litigation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Other Cases Currently Involved Alleging Injuries from Asbestos and Similar Amounts of Monetary Damages Per Case	9,700
Number of Claims in Other Cases Currently Involved Alleging Injuries from Asbestos and Similar Amounts of Monetary Damages Per Case	37,300
Insurance Recoveries	19,000,000
Loss Contingency Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease)	150,000,000
Undiscounted Projection of Claims and Related Legal Fees, Period	20 years
Amended PCC Plan and Non-PCC Asbestos Claims [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	682,000,000		682,000,000	681,000,000
Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Note 2 - Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Details) [Line Items]
Payments for Legal Settlements			1,800,000,000
Estimated Litigation Liability	363,000,000		363,000,000	364,000,000
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	$ 92,000,000	$ 92,000,000