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A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(1) falsefalseFinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net27false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.corning.com/role/disclosuregoodwillandotherintangibleassetsdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse21falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis} : Non-Competition Agreements [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $As_Of_12_31_20101048http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000024741instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNon-Competition Agreements [Member]us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMemberus-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$22falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis} : Non-Competition Agreements [Member] 12/31/2009 USD ($) $As_Of_12_31_2009164http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000024741instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNon-Competition Agreements [Member]us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMemberus-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseNon-Competition Agreements [Member]28false0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGrossus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse9700000097000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse9800000098000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of the gross carrying amounts before accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date of all intangible assets having statutory or estimated useful lives. The aggregate gross carrying amount (including any previously recognized impairment charges) of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(1) falsefalseFinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross29false0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse9400000094000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse9300000093000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe accumulated amount of amortization of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(1) falsefalseFinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization30false0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse30000003000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse50000005000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate sum of gross carrying value of a major finite-lived intangible asset class, less accumulated amortization and any impairment charges. 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The aggregate gross carrying amount (including any previously recognized impairment charges) of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(1) falsefalseFinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross33false0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse30000003000000[1],[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse20000002000000[1],[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe accumulated amount of amortization of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(1) falsefalseFinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization34false0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse9500000095000000[1],[2]falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse7800000078000000[1],[2]falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate sum of gross carrying value of a major finite-lived intangible asset class, less accumulated amortization and any impairment charges. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(1) falsefalseFinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net1The Company recorded other identifiable intangible assets associated with the purchase of Axygen Bioscience in the third quarter of 2009. Refer to Note 8 (Acquisition) for additional information.2The Company recorded identifiable intangible assets associated with a small acquisition completed in the fourth quarter of 2010. 333Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue