This invention relates to organic salt compositions useful in the preparation of organoclay compositions, polymer-organoclay composite compositions, and methods for the preparation of polymer nanocomposites. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of making a polymer-organoclay composite composition, said method comprising melt mixing a quaternary organoclay composition comprising alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, said organic layers comprising a quaternary organic cation with a polymeric resin comprising at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, polyarylene sulfides, polyarylene ethers, polyether sulfones, polyether ketones, polyether ether ketones, polyphenylenes, and polycarbonates, said polymeric resin being substantially free of polyetherimides; said melt mixing being carried out at a temperature in a range between about 300° C. and about 450° C. to provide a polymer-organoclay composite composition, said polymer-organoclay composite composition being characterized by a percent exfoliation of at least 10 percent.