To prevent the deterioration of catalyst or the damage of a particulate filter caused by the rapid temperature rise of the particulate filter when the abrupt deceleration of an engine occurs, and avoid the deterioration of fuel consumption by depositing a large PM in the particulate filter and regenerating the same at once. A heat-absorbing area 4 is provided by forming a deeply clogged structure at the exhaust gas flowing-out side end of the particular filter 1 disposed in an exhaust pipe 2 of an internal combustion engine E. As the heat-absorbing area has a heat capacity larger than that in the other portions, the combustion heat is absorbed and dispersed even if the rapid chain reaction of PM combustion occurs, whereby it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the downstream portion of the particulate filter liable to be high in temperature.