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Restructuring and Other Charges - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2012 Person | Sep. 30, 2011 Person | Sep. 30, 2012 Person | Sep. 30, 2011 Person | Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges | $ 2 | $ 9 | $ 27 | $ 49 | $ 130
Restructuring and other charges | 2 | 5 | 19 | 26 |
Number of employees associated with layoff costs | 20 | 150 | 350 | 630 |
Minimum amount of cash payments expected to be paid beyond the end of the current annual period |  |  | 70 |  |
Maximum amount of cash payments expected to be paid beyond the end of the current annual period |  |  | 75 |  |
Primary Metals [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges | 3 | (6) | 9 | (4) |
Number of employees associated with layoff costs |  | 40 | 180 | 110 |
Engineered Products and Solutions [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges |  | (2) | 3 | 1 |
Number of employees associated with layoff costs |  |  | 70 | 30 |
Alumina [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges |  | 6 | 1 | 32 |
Number of employees associated with layoff costs |  | 30 | 25 | 60 |
Corporate [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges | (1) | 6 | 13 | 13 |
Number of employees associated with layoff costs |  | 10 | 75 | 10 |
Other miscellaneous charges [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges |  |  |  | 4 |
Restructuring and other charges |  |  |  | 3 |
Restructuring reserve, other adjustment |  | 1 | 2 |  |
Restructuring reserve, other adjustment, after-tax |  | 1 | 2 |  |
Global Rolled Products [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges |  | 5 | 1 | 7 |
Number of employees associated with layoff costs |  | 70 |  | 420 |
Lease Termination Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges | 3 |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges | 2 |  |  |  |
Restructuring reserve, other adjustment |  |  | 9 |  |
Restructuring reserve, other adjustment, after-tax |  |  | 5 |  |
Small Layoff Reserves Related To Prior Periods [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges |  |  |  | 14 |
Restructuring and other charges |  |  |  | 9 |
Restructuring reserve, other adjustment | 1 | 10 | 4 |  |
Restructuring reserve, other adjustment, after-tax | 1 | 6 | 2 |  |
Layoff Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges |  |  | 20 | 31 | 93
Restructuring and other charges |  |  | 14 | 19 |
Smelter Curtailments [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges |  |  | 9 | 8 |
Restructuring and other charges |  |  | 6 | 5 |
Number of employees associated with layoff costs |  |  | 160 |  |
Restructuring Programs Layoffs 2012 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total number of employees already laid off | 90 |  | 90 |  |
Number of positions terminated |  |  | 350 |  |
Cash payments made against the layoff reserves | 3 |  | 6 |  |
Restructuring Programs Layoffs 2011 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total number of employees already laid off | 770 |  | 770 |  |
Number of positions terminated |  |  | 1,600 |  |
Cash payments made against the layoff reserves | 7 |  | 21 |  |
Restructuring Programs Layoffs 2010 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total number of employees already laid off | 820 |  | 820 |  |
Number of positions terminated |  |  | 875 |  |
Cash payments made against the layoff reserves | 1 |  | 3 |  |
Restructuring Programs Layoffs 2009 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total number of employees already laid off | 5,900 |  | 5,900 |  |
Number of positions terminated |  |  | 6,000 |  |
Litigation Matter [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges |  | 18 |  | 20 |
Restructuring and other charges |  | $ 11 |  | $ 8 |

X
- Definition The maximum amount of cash payments expected to be paid beyond the end of the current annual period related to restructuring charges such as ongoing site remediation work, special termination benefit payments, least termination costs, among others. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The minimum amount of cash payments expected to be paid beyond the end of the current annual period related to restructuring charges such as ongoing site remediation work, special termination benefit payments, least termination costs, among others. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of employees an entity expects to layoff that correlates to the layoff charges recorded during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number Of Positions + References No definition available. + Details
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X
- Definition Amount charged against earnings in the period after-tax and noncontrolling interests for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a program that is planned and controlled by management, and materially changes either the scope of a business undertaken by an entity, or the manner in which that business is conducted. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Restructuring charge for layoffs. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of any reversal and other adjustment, including foreign currency translation adjustments, made during the period to the amount of a previously accrued liability for a specified type of restructuring cost, excluding adjustments for costs incurred during the period and costs settled during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Restructuring Reserve Other Adjustment After Tax Expense + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of positions eliminated as of the balance sheet date since inception of the restructuring plan(s). + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding asset retirement obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747 + Details
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- Details
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