Note 8 - Acquisitions (Details) - Recognized Amounts of Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed - USD ($) $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
		Jan. 15, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Note 8 - Acquisitions (Details) - Recognized Amounts of Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 1,380	$ 1,150	$ 1,002
Display Technologies [Member]
Note 8 - Acquisitions (Details) - Recognized Amounts of Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Line Items]
Goodwill			128	$ 134	$ 9
Five Acquisitions [Member]
Note 8 - Acquisitions (Details) - Recognized Amounts of Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents			2
Trade receivables			63
Inventory			47
Property, plant and equipment			117
Other intangible assets			286
Other current and non-current assets			27
Other current and non-current liabilities			(117)
Total identified net assets			425
Purchase consideration			(725)
Goodwill	[1]		$ 300
Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member]
Note 8 - Acquisitions (Details) - Recognized Amounts of Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	[2]	$ 133
Trade receivables	[3]	357
Inventory	[3]	105
Property, plant and equipment	[3]	3,595
Other current and non-current assets	[3]	71
Debt – current		(32)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (3)	[3]	(357)
Other current and non-current liabilities	[3]	(294)
Total identified net assets	[3]	3,578
Non-controlling interests		15
Fair value of Samsung Corning Precision Materials on acquisition date		(3,718)
Purchase consideration		(1,579)
Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member] | Display Technologies [Member]
Note 8 - Acquisitions (Details) - Recognized Amounts of Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Line Items]
Goodwill	[3],[4]	$ 125

[1] The goodwill recognized is partially deductible for U.S. income tax purposes. The goodwill was allocated to the Optical Communications and All Other reporting segment in the amount of $213 million and $87 million, respectively.

[2] Cash and cash equivalents are presented net of the 2014 dividend distributed subsequent to the acquisition of Samsung Corning Precision Materials, in the amount of $2.8 billion.

[3] During 2014, the Company recorded total measurement period adjustments of $60 million for the Acquisition of Corning Precision Materials primarily related to accrual of contingent liabilities and employee benefit obligations.

[4] The goodwill recognized is not deductible for U.S. income tax purposes. The goodwill was allocated to the Display Technologies segment.