Investments in Affiliates (Schedule of Equity Method Investments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	25.00%
Carrying Value	$ 677		$ 699
Share of Earnings (Loss)	192		168		99
Dividends and Other Distributions	(205)		(138)		(78)
Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Share of Earnings (Loss)	161		144		78
Other Activities [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Share of Earnings (Loss)	24		17		15
Consumer Specialties [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Share of Earnings (Loss)	2		2		1
National Methonal Company (Ibn Sina) [Member] | Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	25.00%		25.00%
Carrying Value	54		53
Share of Earnings (Loss)	112		81		51
Dividends and Other Distributions	(111)		(84)		(41)
Fortron Industries LLC [Member] | Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Carrying Value	87		79
Share of Earnings (Loss)	7		5		(3)
Dividends and Other Distributions	0		0		0
Korea Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd. [Member] | Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Carrying Value	150		153
Share of Earnings (Loss)	23		20		14
Dividends and Other Distributions	(22)		(20)		(10)
Polyplastics Co., Ltd. [Member] | Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	45.00%		45.00%
Carrying Value	202		229
Share of Earnings (Loss)	19		37		15
Dividends and Other Distributions	(45)		(10)		(4)
Una SA [Member] | Advanced Engineered Materials [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	0.00%	[1]	50.00%	[1]
Carrying Value	0	[1]	3	[1]
Share of Earnings (Loss)	0	[1]	1	[1]	0	[1]
Dividends and Other Distributions	(3)	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
InfraServ GmbH & Co. Gendorf KG [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	39.00%
InfraServ GmbH & Co. Gendorf KG [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	39.00%		39.00%
Carrying Value	33		27
Share of Earnings (Loss)	10		4		3
Dividends and Other Distributions	(3)		(2)		(5)
InfraServ Gmbh & Co. Hoechst KG [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	32.00%
InfraServ Gmbh & Co. Hoechst KG [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	32.00%		32.00%
Carrying Value	125		128
Share of Earnings (Loss)	16		16		15
Dividends and Other Distributions	(16)		(18)		(14)
InfraServ GmbH & Co. Knapsack KG [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	27.00%
InfraServ GmbH & Co. Knapsack KG [Member] | Other Activities [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	27.00%		27.00%
Carrying Value	21		22
Share of Earnings (Loss)	5		4		5
Dividends and Other Distributions	(5)		(4)		(4)
Sherbrooke Capital Health and Wellness, L.P. [Member] | Consumer Specialties [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	10.00%	[2]	10.00%	[2]
Carrying Value	5	[2]	5	[2]
Share of Earnings (Loss)	0	[2]	0	[2]	(1)	[2]
Dividends and Other Distributions	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2]

[1] The Company divested this investment in March 2011.

[2] The Company accounts for its ownership interest in Sherbrooke Capital Health and Wellness, L.P. under the equity method of accounting because the Company is able to exercise significant influence.