In this study, melamine cyanurate (MCA)/melamine phosphate (MP) composite flame retardants were synthesized in the solution of phosphoric acid/polyamide 6 (PA6). Phosphoric acid acted as the solvent of PA6, catalyst of melamine-cyanurate self-assembly reaction and reactant of melamine-phosphoric acid reaction. With the consumption of the acid, the pH value of the system increased, and the solved PA6 precipitated on the surface of the flame retardant particles to form polymeric encapsulation. This technology realized the synthesis and surface modification of the flame retardants in one process. The catalyst and solvent, phosphoric acid, was finally converted into the product MP, and need no an additional removing process. The encapsulated MCA/MP (EMCMP) composite flame retardants were successfully applied in the fire-resistance to glass fiber (GF)-reinforced PA6. Because the encapsulated layer of EMCMP was also PA6, good interfacial compatibility and effective dispersion of EMCMP in PA6 resin can be obtained, and the corresponding flame retardant materials showed excellent flame retardancy and mechanical performance. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.