Business Segments - Segment information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 8,390	$ 7,810	$ 16,668	$ 15,495
Operating Income	2,401	2,153	3,408	3,895
Assets	36,778		36,778		$ 37,987
Depreciation and amortization			762	818
Capital expenditures			669	589
Business Segments. \| Industrial
Business Segment Information
Net sales	3,148	2,946	6,292	5,882
Operating Income	724	568	1,443	1,238
Business Segments. \| Safety and Graphics
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,815	1,569	3,598	3,119
Operating Income	480	851	963	1,250
Business Segments. \| Health Care
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,520	1,449	3,056	2,884
Operating Income	435	408	895	837
Business Segments. \| Electronics and Energy
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,337	1,290	2,687	2,581
Operating Income	865	325	1,202	581
Business Segments. \| Consumer
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,223	1,169	2,350	2,242
Operating Income	261	198	479	421
Corporate and Unallocated
Business Segment Information
Net sales	12	2	12	3
Operating Income	(206)	(51)	(1,252)	(144)
Elimination of Dual Credit
Business Segment Information
Net sales	(665)	(615)	(1,327)	(1,216)
Operating Income	$ (158)	$ (146)	$ (322)	$ (288)

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(11))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3213-108585

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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