Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data) (Parenthetical) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended									18 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Danisco [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Danisco [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Electronics and Communications [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Agriculture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Agriculture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Agriculture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Imprelis [Member] Agriculture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Imprelis [Member] Agriculture [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 COGS [Member] Danisco [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 COGS [Member] Danisco [Member] Transaction Costs [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 COGS [Member] Danisco [Member] Transaction Costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 COGS [Member] Danisco [Member] Fair Value Adjustment to Inventory [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 COGS [Member] Danisco [Member] Fair Value Adjustment to Inventory [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 COGS [Member] INVISTA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 COGS [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 COGS [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 COGS [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 COGS [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 COGS [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 COGS [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Income, Net [Member] Electronics and Communications [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Income, Net [Member] Agriculture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Income, Net [Member] Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] Danisco [Member] Employee Severance [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Research and Development Expense [Member]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Product claims													$ (575)	$ (175)	$ (750)	$ (575)	$ (175)							$ (135)	$ (125)	$ (265)	$ (50)	$ (100)	$ (75)
Charge related to litigation settlement																							(137)
Gain on sale of equity method investment		122	0	0			122																							122
Restructuring charges							(9)	(11)			(12)	(2)																					(66)	(152)	(17)
Asset impairment charges		(275)					(150)				(92)																						(33)	(242)
Gain on sale of a business								117				49																			117	49
Acquisition related charges					(171)	(182)												(103)	(3)	(60)	(132)	(43)														(36)
Milestone payment associated with licensing agreement									(50)	(50)																											(50)
Tax benefit associated with sale of business	$ 73