Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Selected Financial Information On Product Lines and Reportable Segments - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,231	$ 2,272	$ 2,343	$ 2,265	$ 2,404	$ 2,540	$ 2,482	$ 2,289	$ 9,111	[1]	$ 9,715	[1]	$ 7,819	[1]
Operating Segments [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									9,111		9,715		7,819
Operating Segments [Member] | Display Technologies [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									3,086		3,851		2,545
Operating Segments [Member] | Optical Communications [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									2,980		2,652		2,326
Operating Segments [Member] | Environmental Technologies [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									1,053		1,092		919
Operating Segments [Member] | Specialty Materials [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									1,107		1,205		1,170
Operating Segments [Member] | Life Sciences [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									821		862		851
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Segments [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									64		53		8
Operating Segments [Member] | Carrier Network [Member] | Optical Communications [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									2,194		2,036		1,782
Operating Segments [Member] | Enterprise Network [Member] | Optical Communications [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									786		616		544
Operating Segments [Member] | Automative and Other [Member] | Environmental Technologies [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									528		528		485
Operating Segments [Member] | Diesel [Member] | Environmental Technologies [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									525		564		434
Operating Segments [Member] | Corning Gorilla Glass [Member] | Specialty Materials [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									810		846		848
Operating Segments [Member] | Advanced Optics and Other Specialty Glass [Member] | Specialty Materials [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									297		359		322
Operating Segments [Member] | Labware [Member] | Life Sciences [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									512		536		529
Operating Segments [Member] | Cell Culture Products [Member] | Life Sciences [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 309		$ 326		$ 322

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