Reportable Segments (Reportable Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Net sales	$ 2,375	$ 2,047
Depreciation	260	281
Amortization of purchased intangibles	17	14
Research, development and engineering expenses	200	190
Restructuring, impairment and other charges		80
Income tax (provision) benefit	66	304
Net income (loss)	86	(368)
Reportable Segments [Member]
Net sales	2,375	2,047
Depreciation	258	278
Amortization of purchased intangibles	17	14
Research, development and engineering expenses	175	164
Restructuring, impairment and other charges		69
Income tax (provision) benefit	(168)	(95)
Net income (loss)	374	213
Display Technologies [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Net sales	736	705
Depreciation	129	151
Research, development and engineering expenses	19	18
Restructuring, impairment and other charges		4
Income tax (provision) benefit	(102)	(93)
Net income (loss)	249	209
Optical Communications [Member]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	17
Optical Communications [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Net sales	818	609
Depreciation	45	41
Amortization of purchased intangibles	11	7
Research, development and engineering expenses	37	37
Restructuring, impairment and other charges		5
Income tax (provision) benefit	(45)	(11)
Net income (loss)	82	17
Environmental Technologies [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Net sales	275	264
Depreciation	31	32
Research, development and engineering expenses	25	25
Restructuring, impairment and other charges		5
Income tax (provision) benefit	(14)	(16)
Net income (loss)	31	34
Specialty Materials [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Net sales	300	227
Depreciation	29	28
Research, development and engineering expenses	36	31
Restructuring, impairment and other charges		12
Income tax (provision) benefit	(24)	(12)
Net income (loss)	48	26
Life Sciences [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Net sales	210	204
Depreciation	12	15
Amortization of purchased intangibles	5	5
Research, development and engineering expenses	6	6
Restructuring, impairment and other charges		3
Income tax (provision) benefit	(8)	(6)
Net income (loss)	17	12
All Other [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Net sales	36	38
Depreciation	12	11
Amortization of purchased intangibles	1	2
Research, development and engineering expenses	52	47
Restructuring, impairment and other charges		40
Income tax (provision) benefit	25	43
Net income (loss)	$ (53)	$ (85)