PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and quantitatively evaluate the damage and deterioration of a ferrite-based heat insulating material. SOLUTION: For the ferrite-based heat insulating material, the length laid along the grain boundary of a grain boundary precipitate precipitated on an old austenic grain boundary (lγ) and the length of the old austenic grain boundary (Lγ) are measured, the grain boundary coverage factor ((Σlγ/Lγ)×100) that is the ratio of the total sum of the length laid along the grain boundary of the grain boundary precipitate to the length of the old austenic grain boundary is calculated, and the damage is quantitatively evaluated with the grain boundary coverage factor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI