Reportable Segments (Information Concerning Principal Geographic Areas) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 8,012		$ 7,890		$ 6,632
Long-lived assets	17,296	[1]	16,484	[1]	14,139	[1]
United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	1,859		1,676		1,564
Long-lived assets	6,771	[1]	6,087	[1]	4,969	[1]
Canada [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	246		229		199
Mexico [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	24		26		42
Long-lived assets	87	[1]	78	[1]	95	[1]
Total North America [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	2,129		1,931		1,805
Long-lived assets	6,858	[1]	6,165	[1]	5,064	[1]
Japan [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	751		1,252		1,068
Long-lived assets	1,949	[1]	2,210	[1]	2,368	[1]
Taiwan [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	1,708		1,850		1,891
Long-lived assets	2,836	[1]	3,341	[1]	2,850	[1]
China [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	2,103		1,550		756
Long-lived assets	1,215	[1]	764	[1]	314	[1]
Korea [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	94		101		72
Long-lived assets	3,342	[1]	3,357	[1]	2,946	[1]
Other, Asia Pacific [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	243		145		127
Long-lived assets	84	[1]	11	[1]	11	[1]
Total Asia Pacific [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	4,899		4,898		3,914
Long-lived assets	9,426	[1]	9,683	[1]	8,489	[1]
Germany [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	264		318		270
Long-lived assets	139	[1]	134	[1]	121	[1]
France [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	57		65		54
Long-lived assets	267	[1]	197	[1]	195	[1]
United Kingdom [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	134		124		118
Long-lived assets	14	[1]			4	[1]
Other, Europe [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	274		263		239
Long-lived assets	550	[1]	273	[1]	241	[1]
Total Europe [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	729		770		681
Long-lived assets	970	[1]	604	[1]	561	[1]
Brazil [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	29		29		28
Long-lived assets	1	[1]	1	[1]
Other, Latin America [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	33		25		25
Long-lived assets	6	[1]	6	[1]
Total Latin America [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	62		54		53
Long-lived assets	7	[1]	7	[1]
All Other [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	193		237		179
Long-lived assets	$ 35	[1]	$ 25	[1]	$ 25	[1]

[1] Long-lived assets primarily include investments, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets. Assets in the U.S. and Korea include investments in Dow Corning Corporation and Samsung Corning Precision Materials