This　work　investigated　the　effect　of　boron　addition　methods　on　microstructure　and　mechanical　properties　of　a　near-α　titanium　alloy.　Ti–6.5Al–2.5Sn–9Zr–0.5Mo–1W–1Nb–0.25Si　was　used　as　the　matrix,　and　0.3　wt%　TiB2　and　0.1　wt%　B　were　added,　respectively.　The　results　show　that　the　addition　of　trace　boron　forms　TiB　whiskers　on　the　prior　β　grain　boundaries　and　leads　to　significant　refinement　of　the　microstructure　in　the　based　alloy.　And,　the　refining　effect　of　the　0.3　wt%　TiB2　and　0.1　wt%　B　on　the　base　alloy　is　similar.　At　room　temperature,　the　strength　of　the　boron-containing　alloys　has　a　certain　increase,　but　the　elongation　drops　slightly.　Through　study　on　the　microstructure　of　tensile　strained　specimens,　it　was　found　that　the　increase　of　tensile　strength　of　the　boron-containing　alloys　is　the　combination　of　the　base　microstructure　and　the　whisker　bearing,　while　the　ductility　drops　significantly　is　mainly　attributed　to　the　cracking　of　TiB　phase.　©　2019,　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.