NONCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES AND RELATED COMPANY TRANSACTIONS, Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended																		3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Exclusive of additional differences for Dow Corning and MEGlobal [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Exclusive of Additional Differences for Dow Corning, MEGlobal and Equipolymers [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Dow Corning Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Dow Corning Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Dow Corning Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 MEGlobal [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 MEGlobal [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 MEGlobal [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 MEGlobal, Amount Amortized Over the Remaining Useful Lives of the Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Equipolymers, Amount Amortized Over the Remaining Useful Lives of the Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 MEGlobal, Share of the Joint Venture Goodwill [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Sadara [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Equipolymers [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Equipolymers [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Equipolymers [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 Collection of previously impaired note receivable related to Equipolymers [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Americas Styrenics LLC [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Americas Styrenics LLC [Member]		Dec. 31, 2009 Americas Styrenics LLC [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Nonconsolidated Affiliates [Member] jointventures	Dec. 31, 2010 Nonconsolidated Affiliates [Member] jointventures	Dec. 31, 2011 Performance Plastics [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Performance Plastics [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Performance Plastics [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Performance Plastics [Member] Collection of previously impaired note receivable related to Equipolymers [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage						50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	[1]	50.00%	[1]	50.00%	[1]					50.00%	[1]	0.00%	[1]	50.00%	[1]		0.00%	[2]	0.00%	[2]	50.00%	[2]
Proceeds from collection of notes receivable																									$ 115
Investment in nonconsolidated affiliates	3,405	3,453	3,224																															1,376	1,602	1,517
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity				80	74	(227)	(227)		(199)		(250)				(60)	(6)	(139)						(7)
Noncurrent receivables	1,144	388																824
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	1,223	1,112	630																															303	254	101	86
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	1,016	668	690
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment																			$ 65
Number of Nonconsolidated Affiliates																																69	72

[1] On July 1, 2011, Equipolymers was merged into MEGlobal.

[2] On June 17, 2010, the Company completed the sale of its ownership interest in Americas Styrenics LLC.