Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net (Narrative) (Details) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended																						3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended											3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Agriculture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Agriculture [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Agriculture [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Electronics and Communications [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Electronics and Communications [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Electronics and Communications [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Industrial Biosciences [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Industrial Biosciences [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Industrial Biosciences [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Nutrition and Health [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Nutrition and Health [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Nutrition and Health [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Nutrition and Health [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Chemicals [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance Chemicals [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Chemicals [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance Materials [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Materials [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Safety and Protection [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Safety and Protection [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Safety and Protection [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other income, net [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other income, net [Member] Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other income, net [Member] Performance Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Corporate Expenses [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate Expenses [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Employee Severance [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee Severance [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Non-Personnel Charges [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Other Non-Personnel Charges [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Asset Related [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset Related [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset Impairment Charges [Member] Asset Related [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset Shut Down Charges [Member] Asset Related [Member] Restructuring Program 2012 [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve	$ 57	$ 57			$ 56	$ 161																																								$ 52	$ 154	$ 4	[1]	$ 7	[1]	$ 0	$ 0
Charge associated with restructuring actions	19																							19	19											9			9	9	10	10	10
Restructuring charges			134	53		234	11		11	9		9	3	9		3	49	14		53	3		3			12	2		13	58		58	(11)	28			66	152							84		157			8	[1]		69	30	39
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		$ (16)			$ (17)	$ (69)		$ (2)			$ 2				$ (1)				$ (3)			$ 1						$ (1)			$ (2)				$ (2)	$ (24)								$ (9)		$ (19)	$ 0	$ 2	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	$ (69)

[1] Other non-personnel charges consist of contractual obligation costs.