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Why were CFCs originally considered useful refrigerants and aerosol propellants?

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ozone depletion — Ozone depletion The Antarctic ozone hole reaches its maximum extent in October of each year. On October 7, 2021, when this image was captured, the Antarctic ozone hole spanned 24.8 million square km (9.6 million square miles).

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were originally developed in the 1930s and became widely used as refrigerants, aerosol-spray propellants, solvents, and foam-blowing agents due to their specific chemical properties. They were considered ideal for these industrial and commercial applications because they are nontoxic and nonflammable. Additionally, they can be readily converted between liquid and gaseous states, which made them highly effective for cooling systems and pressurized dispensers.1

While these characteristics made them valuable for human use, their stability allowed them to persist in the atmosphere for long periods, eventually reaching the stratosphere. There, they contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, which is a critical environmental concern because it shields life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.1