Business Segments - Segment information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 7,863	$ 8,278
Operating Income	1,136	1,007
Assets	39,140		$ 36,500
Depreciation and amortization	375	382
Capital expenditures	391	304
Business Segments. \| Industrial
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,929	3,135
Operating Income	585	714
Business Segments. \| Safety and Graphics
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,704	1,779
Operating Income	396	481
Business Segments. \| Health Care
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,540	1,535
Operating Income	432	458
Business Segments. \| Electronics and Energy
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,190	1,350
Operating Income	284	336
Business Segments. \| Consumer
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,123	1,145
Operating Income	219	220
Corporate and Unallocated
Business Segment Information
Net sales	21
Operating Income	(624)	(1,037)
Elimination of Dual Credit
Business Segment Information
Net sales	(644)	(666)
Operating Income	$ (156)	$ (165)

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.

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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.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

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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).

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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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